King’s Wrath (35 page)

She lay back, gazed up at the sky and listened as Kilt began a story he admitted he had never told anyone in its entirety before.
Perl had been shelling peas when she sensed it. She cried out and doubled over as what felt to be her very spirit surged out, seeking, questing … and finding. She felt pulled in different directions — an overwhelming desire to race towards the source of that joy and the compulsion to run as fast as she could away from it, away from the feelings of dizziness and nausea that had since followed.

When she straightened, breathing heavily, everything was normal and that previous stark sensation had dissipated; she waited, not sure of what she was waiting for. There was no sound but her breathing and the birds squabbling outside. She had begun to doubt that the sensation occurred at all when she heard Reuth calling from the front door.

‘Perl? Are you home?’ came the familiar voice.

‘Where else?’ she replied, relieved that she was not alone any longer.

‘Ah, there you are. Goodness me, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Everything all right?’

Did she detect a false note in Reuth’s voice?

‘Yes, yes, I’m fine.’

Reuth took her hand. That was unusual.

‘Are you sure?’ the older woman continued. ‘Because you look a bit peaky to me.’

‘I … I did feel a bit faint a moment ago but I always forget to eat when I’m busy … ’ She looked down. Reuth’s knuckles were white against her hand.

‘You’re hurting me,’ she said, confusion claiming her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m sorry, Perl. I’m so sorry,’ Reuth said and then she looked towards the front door. ‘In here!’ she called. ‘I’ve got her.’

Perl reacted like a burned cat, clawing and shrieking, but suddenly men were upon her, holding her down. Then the vile sensation claimed her again and she knew why they were here.

‘Where?’ she groaned.

‘He’s coming, my girl. I’m so sorry,’ Reuth said.

‘Who is it?’ she cried.

Marth growled. ‘Hush now, keep your voice down, lass, or you’ll have us all killed for our trouble.’

Reuth stroked her face, begged her to be still. It was hopeless anyway, she knew it. She’d avoided this all of her life. Maybe it was easiest to just give up and give in.

‘That’s it, that’s it, Perl. You be calm now, my girl,’ Reuth said, tears streaking her cheeks. ‘It’s Leonel. He’s young and he’s handsome … and he’s —’

‘Valisar!’ Perl groaned. ‘Please, I beg you, don’t do this to me. You’re my friend.’ She began to tremble, choking on the words as the pain intensified.

‘You’re already dead in your heart, Perl. Already a prisoner. What difference does it make?’ Reuth pleaded.

She was pinned down on her cot, her head flung back, and the men did not let up on their grip even though she had stopped struggling. The tears dripped from either side of her eyes into the scarf that covered her head. ‘But not in my mind, Reuth …’ she cried. ‘I’m free in my mind.’

And she began to retch helplessly as a shadow fell across her doorway.

26

 

Lily was tired. It had been a long and dusty journey. In an attempt not to draw undue attention to herself she had engaged in conversation with an older couple going north to take a dip in the mountain springs famed for their therapeutic effects. Though Lily was sure she could achieve similar, if not better, results with one of her unguents, she didn’t mention it. All she wanted to do was talk pleasantly but not too animatedly or expansively so that no one became too intrigued by the quiet woman, travelling alone in the corner of the carriage.

‘Not long now,’ the old man said genially.

‘I imagine you’d know the journey well,’ Lily replied, having learned that this was their sixth pilgrimage.

‘Oh yes,’ his wife confirmed, ‘although each anni we see some change in the landscape.’ She pointed out of the window. ‘Those little dwellings weren’t there last anni and you know the town of Lower Flitchington that we passed through?’ Lily nodded. ‘Well, that was little more than a dusty two-horse village when we first began coming through these parts.’

‘And now look at it,’ Lily finished for her and the woman smiled triumphantly.

‘Exactly. Next time I might suggest to Burnard that we overnight there in one of its inns and not make this such a dash to the north.’

Lily smiled. ‘That would be nice,’ she said, trying to keep up her polite interest.

The fear and shock of Stracker, of Piven, of her father, not to mention the stress and adrenaline of outwitting her captors, was giving way to despair at Kirin’s brutal death. The more she thought about him the more convinced she was that somewhere in the traumatic but brief time they had been together she had fallen in love with his unassuming quiet strength and his tender, affectionate way. She’d always thought she loved Kilt but she now understood that what she had with Kilt was a great friendship. They had trusted each other, found each other amusing, and they were safe together. He had been good to her and while his remoteness had infuriated her, it was perhaps, she now realised, the aspect that she found most intriguing about him. She liked his mystery and his dangerous lifestyle, his recklessness and his sense of fun. She had confused excitement and his entertaining manner for love. But he had never loved her, she knew now. Love was what she had for Kirin and he’d had for her; Kirin had died because of her, selflessly protecting her.

She felt a sob rushing to her throat and caught it just in time.

‘There’s the marker,’ the man said, pointing with enthusiasm to the stone boulder. ‘You’ll be at the convent before you know it.’

Lily was grateful for his intrusion, swallowed her sob and took a deep breath to steady herself. Kirin was gone. She hoped Kilt and Jewd had stayed safe in the crowd and that one day soon their paths would cross. But now all she wanted was to take some time at the convent if they would permit her to stay for a while. She needed a quiet, uneventful stay.

Leo looked upon the woman writhing before him. He could see the revulsion and fear in her eyes but he felt only an immense feeling of pleasure. All nausea had fled, replaced with a rapture. This woman was his aegis; not just any aegis but the aegis born for him.

He had owned her from his birth. He could hear Reuth’s voice murmuring and cajoling; he could hear Marth giving orders to the other Vested and to Perl. He could hear Perl begging for pity that no one would extend. But he knew these things only through their tones, not their words; his hammering heart and his rushing blood were muting the sounds of the words. He could not focus on anything but his desire to trammel Perl.

‘I must consume her,’ he said. The words sounded as though he was talking in a tunnel or beneath water.

He watched Reuth whisper to Perl, saw Perl open her mouth to scream. Surprisingly it was he who reacted the fastest, covering her mouth quickly so no sound came out. He saw everything in intense detail — her nostrils flaring with her laboured breathing, her chest rising and falling so fast she looked like a panicked bird, her eyes widening in horror as Marth lifted a small pair of shears from his back pocket.

‘Just a sting, Perl, I promise,’ Leo lied. He nodded to Marth. ‘Do it!’ he commanded and once again pressed his hand hard over her mouth.

Without any ceremony or hesitation Marth reached for Perl’s ear and in a trice, despite her hysterical squirming and the silent shrieks behind Leo’s palm, snipped off an earlobe.

Blood gushed, Perl retched and the bloodied piece of flesh fell into Leo’s free hand. Leo wasted no time. He threw the earlobe into his mouth and closed his eyes as he swallowed without chewing.

As he felt the small piece of flesh slip down his gullet, feeling neither remorse nor repulsion, he heard the words of binding arrive in his mind in an old language he knew he shouldn’t know. And yet, without conscious effort he began to murmur them. Perl instantly began to arch her back despite her captors’ efforts, the whites of her eyes showing from her agony. Leo let out a silent cry of his own, feeling only the ecstasy of the magical Valisar bond as his aegis became truly his.

Kilt had finished talking long ago but they’d both kept a comfortable silence since, reflecting on all he’d said.

Evie raised herself to sit with her arms pulling her knees tight to her chest. ‘Can you imagine how this all sounds to me?’

He shook his head. ‘Highly improbable, I should imagine.’

‘So ridiculous in fact that I feel I have no choice but to believe in it. I’m here; this isn’t the dream or the nightmare I hoped I’d wake from. You’re here and I am so aware of you on every level that it’s making my hair stand on end.’ He gave a sad smile and nodded silently. ‘And so let’s say I now accept my bloodline, let’s say I even accept that I am the only daughter of the Valisars to survive and that I am the wielder of this profound magic that no one seems to understand … what am I supposed to do with it?’

‘I don’t know, Genevieve.’

‘You’re the first person to ever call me that. I thought my name was Evie.’

‘Genevieve is a beautiful name. I like saying it.’ He looked up and straight at her. ‘You wear that beautiful name very well.’ He knew she blushed by the way she suddenly looked away from him. ‘As to what you should do with your magic — I suspect your father always imagined that if his son were unable to do so, you would use it to seize back the crown.’

‘But you’re telling me that Leo is more than capable.’

‘Yes, he is.’

‘Then let him have it. I don’t want it. If my father wanted his son to rule, shouldn’t we all just help Leo achieve that?’

‘That’s exactly what I was doing until a few days ago. But I have seen elements in Leo that I don’t like. There’s a real sense of duty that walks hand in hand with a devastating lack of empathy for others.’

‘He’s selfish,’ she said simply.

‘No, it’s more than that. I now believe that Leo is capable of tremendous cruelty — violence, even — if he feels the ends justify the means. Now maybe that’s what ruling actually boils down to.’

‘The bigger picture.’

He frowned. ‘Yes, that’s a very good way of describing it. Perhaps that’s exactly what is needed, but it’s not the king I had hoped he would grow into. Leo would, I think, sacrifice his soul for the crown. He is so suffused with the notion of power that he’s not going to let anyone stand in his way.’

‘And?’

‘You are standing in his way, Genevieve. You are now his greatest threat.’

‘Me? I don’t even want the wretched throne. I don’t even want to be here.’

‘Well, that may be but you are. If Leo finds himself an aegis, then there’s every likelihood — if Loethar hasn’t found one of his own, that is — that your brother will simply take the throne. He will be unstoppable. And he will set about destroying all the other contenders simply as good housekeeping.’

‘Even if I assured him I had no desire to play royal?’

‘He is Valisar, and he shows his father’s traits. He will leave no stone unturned in cleaning up his new empire and that will include you, your uncle and potentially his adopted brother. Beyond that I suspect there will be plenty of bloodshed as he wreaks his new-found power against the barbarians.’

‘You said they were well integrated though.’

‘Most are and the fact is most people of the empire are very content with the ruling power. Loethar is, dare I say, a damn good emperor and more than worthy of his bloodline. I admire what he’s achieved since he took over.’

Evie sighed and shook her head. ‘So it sounds like I must go on the run. Corbel and I can —’

‘De Vis has a sword. That will be worthless against this level of sorcery.’

‘So I’m hunted and already murdered in your scheme of things whatever I do?’ she said. It sounded like an accusation.

Kilt stood and stretched to buy himself a few more moments. ‘No, your majesty, it is not your only option. Why don’t you join me on this side of the rivulet?’

‘But you can’t —’

‘Well, I’ve been practising for all this time. And yes, I’ll probably suffer but I think we should formally meet.’

‘I would like that.’ She stood. ‘Is there anything I can do to make it any easier on you?’

He gave a lopsided grin. ‘Oh well, you could say you find me irresistible for my handsome physique, my dashing charm and unequalled looks. We don’t have to discuss the dirty words of Valisar magic.’

She was moving towards him and he had to lean against a tree to steady himself.

‘Keep coming, Genevieve,’ he urged, his voice tight.

She lifted her skirt and easily skipped over the narrow gully. Kilt doubled up.

‘I must say, this is all very complimentary,’ Evie quipped. ‘Next you’ll vomit.’

‘Well, the nausea’s arrived,’ he admitted. ‘Don’t feel sorry, just walk straight at me. I’m doing better than previously.’

She was close now. ‘Kilt,’ she stammered. ‘I have to admit that it’s getting hard for me to retain control.’

‘All right, stop,’ he said, putting a hand up, breathing with difficulty. ‘Let me look at you, the first Valisar princess to ever survive.’ He straightened with difficulty. ‘Lo, please don’t strike me blind!’ he begged, his discomfort forgotten for a brief heartbeat. ‘You are beautiful.’

She blushed furiously. ‘Shall I go back?’ she asked. ‘Let me, Kilt. I hate doing this to you.’ Her voice was trembling.

‘No, no. The pain is exquisite but looking at you makes it a tad more bearable.’

‘Stop it, this is insufferable! I refuse to be a part of this. If I can’t get back and I can’t go on the run, why don’t I just make it easy for everyone and kill myself?’

‘Genevieve, wait!’ he begged, breathless. ‘There is a way for you to be safe, for me to be well.’

Her gaze narrowed as she paused in thought. Then her dark eyes widened. ‘No! Absolutely not!’

‘It is the only way,’ he said, slipping down the tree trunk in weakness until he was on one knee.

‘Eat you?’ she asked, her voice brimming with disgust. ‘Hurt you? I took an oath, Kilt. I don’t expect you to understand but what you’re suggesting goes against everything I stand for, everything I am.’

He laughed mirthlessly. ‘I was born an aegis. Consuming me is your birthright.’

‘Not this princess,’ she hissed, pointing a finger in warning to him. ‘I want to be your ally, not your jailer. We’ve both shared secrets and fears, parts of our lives with each other that we both admit we haven’t shared with anyone else.’ He nodded, incapable of speaking. ‘I want to be your friend, Kilt. I cannot be convinced to hurt you, not even if my pathetic and intensely protected life depends upon it.’

‘Bravely said, your majesty.’

‘Don’t call me that. I like to hear you call me by my name.’ There was something in her voice that stirred deep within him, calmed his pain slightly and gave him the strength to straighten and look at her. ‘I too have been practising while we spoke,’ she said. ‘And while you trained yourself to show some resistance, I’ve been training myself to withdraw my magic. Did you feel anything different then?’

He nodded. ‘I did. The pain has subsided slightly.’

She took a deep breath. ‘How about this?’ She frowned, waiting.

Kilt paused, even managed a smile. ‘Better, much better.’

‘Right, one last mighty effort then. This is all I have, Kilt,’ and he could feel her pull the grasping magic back into herself.

It didn’t leave entirely, the nausea didn’t disappear, but she now felt like Leo had to him — bearable.

He tested it, realised he was wearied but back in control. ‘How … ?’

She gave a wince of regret. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t think of it sooner.’

‘Think of what? How have you done this?’

‘I’m a doctor … healing is what I do for a profession. And it seems healing is also the magic I possess.’

‘And?’ He still didn’t understand.

‘And … I’m counteracting your sickness with my healing power.’

He stared at her, dumbstruck. Finally, he managed, ‘I’m just in awe of you.’

‘Awe of me?’ she queried, looking confused.

‘Yes. Your intelligence, your generosity … your strength.’

‘Oh … ’ She looked away.

‘I’m making you blush.’

‘Yes … yes, you are. So you’re feeling all right?’

He did a small jig and then mugged for applause. ‘How’s this?’

‘Now that’s embarrassing,’ she admitted, giggling.

‘This is truly amazing. You are amazing!’

‘Stop now, please,’ she said, holding up a hand of protest.

‘But how long can you do this for?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It feels … um, comfortable for now. The main thing is, you can get away. You and your friend, run for your lives and disappear. I’ll never know where you are and I give you my word I won’t look for you.’ She smiled. ‘And that’s the word of Valisar royalty,’ she added with a dry edge to her voice.’ She looked down. ‘Go, Kilt. Go right now.’

He took a breath to speak and then closed his mouth. Instead he took a step forward and took her hand, bent over it and kissed
it gently, lingering his lips on her soft skin. He straightened, still holding her hand, and stared into her soft brown eyes. ‘You would do this for me?’

She nodded. ‘It means I beat the magic. I win.’