Messenger in the Mist (12 page)

Cousin? Star’s thoughts leaped. Fallon Leer and Prince Valen were related? Instantly she saw the resemblance in their faces. The bridge of the nose and the set of the eyes were identical, though Valen’s features were more refined and noble, while Leer’s were rugged and broader. Both men were strikingly handsome in their own way. Valen had a subtle inner strength while Leer’s appeal exuded outward power and inner mystery. Star found herself gawking and had to pull her eyes away to concentrate on the conversation at hand.

“That is your stance, then?” Valen asked him.

Leer raised his hand, palm up, as if to say he could offer nothing more.

Valen looked to Star. “Was there any indication of this either way?”

Star had to remind herself what he referred to. That Leer intercepted the letter to protect Valen? How would she know? She was just the messenger. “No, no indication either way.”

“And this is the man who accepted the first letter?”

“Yes. This is him. He expected it.”

Valen seemed to be considering many issues at once. Star could sense his inner turmoil. She suspected he yearned to believe his cousin. She studied Leer’s timeworn features and tried to find any indication of his purpose, but she could not penetrate his tough facade. All she saw was a man hardened by a rough life, confronting a privileged cousin who had the kingdom in his hands. The situation did not bode well.

“I must think on this. My guards will question you further.” Valen turned to leave. “Come, Miss Nightengale, we need to report his position to the authorities.”

Valen led Star out of the cell. As the guards closed the door behind them, she fought the urge to look back. She did not want to give Leer another reason to tease her. Valen gestured to the winding stairwell and they began the ascent back into light. Dawn would break soon and the morning sun would peek over the horizon. Star was eager to see it, for the dark of night had settled in her eyes and she felt it would never go away.

“I didn’t know he is your cousin.” Star studied Valen’s back as if she could look into the inner workings of his heart.

“Not many people do.” He paused on the stairway. “We were friends once, back when we were small boys. Our mothers were sisters and when they went out together, they brought us along. We went riding, played cards and chess, all the typical family activities. A friendly competition developed between us, but it became clearer the older we grew I was to be king and the rivalry turned sour. I think the inequality of the situation weighed heavily on him. I promised him that, as king, I would see to it that he would have everything I had, but that didn’t seem to placate him. He wanted power, prestige and wealth, and he wanted to gain it for himself, not be given the scraps from his younger cousin.”

Valen rubbed his face with his hand, as if to wipe away his memories. He gestured for her to keep climbing. “The first major rift between us happened the day my mother died.”

Star had heard an accident claimed his mother’s life, but no one knew exactly what transpired that day. The royal family refused to speak of it. She was surprised he confided in her, a messenger from another kingdom without an ounce of royal blood running through her veins. It meant he trusted her.

“I remember it clearly, like the instance froze in my mind, a timeless picture.”

Suddenly Valen’s footsteps were silent. He froze in mid-step, clinging to the railing like it held his salvation. His eyes grew distant, looking beyond the stone to the ground outside the fortress walls. She walked back to him, stopping one stair above so her head was even with his own. “Go on.”

“We were fishing out by Ellis Lake. This was back almost ten years ago, when the Elyndra were held at bay by archers and groups strolled the countryside with a guarded retinue.”

Valen clutched the railing, the back of his hand turning white. “My mother and Fallon’s mother were beading pearl necklaces on the shore. They called to us to come in for the day. Darkness came and the mist thickened around the water’s edge. I wanted to go back immediately, but Fallon insisted we linger. Ambitious and insatiable as always, he wanted to try for one more fish.”

Anxiety bubbled in her stomach as she listened, as if the rippling waters lapped at her feet while she watched the mist flow in an ominous tide. Part of her wanted him to stop right there, but a larger part needed to know his pain. “Go on.” Star placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s all right, I’m listening.”

Valen nodded, looking down at the moss-crusted floor. “We fought. I finally convinced him to help me paddle back to shore. By the time we reached the shoreline, the mist seeped all around us, pouring in like water over a cliff. Our surroundings changed from peaceful to precarious in moments.

“We had stayed out too late, but Fallon’s anger overshadowed his fear. I’d caught more fish and he couldn’t deal with defeat. When I held up my catch of fish to my mother, he ran off into the mist. His mother boarded the carriage to take us back to Ravencliff and was unaware, but my mother had stayed to see we reached the shore safely.

“I remember the beads falling on the beach around my feet like scattered hopes. At first I thought I’d tipped a basket over. When I turned around, I saw my mother had dropped the baskets of necklaces to run after him. I watched as the trail of her indigo shawl vanished into the mist. The archers were already in pursuit. I struggled to run after them, but my guards locked me down. They could not chance losing their future king.” Valen let out a long sad breath. “Fallon was the only one who made it back.”

Star covered her mouth with her hand. “My goodness, Prince Valen, I’m so sorry.”

He waved her concerns away. “I’m not telling you this for your pity. And it’s not meant to upset you either.”

Sniffing back the tears that were already brimming in her gray eyes, she wiped her face with her sleeve. “I’m okay. Please, keep talking. I want to hear the whole story.”

Pearls of sweat sprinkled his forehead and Valen wiped them away. “If you wish.” But he didn’t continue. They stood there on the uneven steps with awkward silence falling between them.

“That doesn’t explain why he lives in the slums,” Star said, wrinkling her brow, “when he’s related to the future king.”

His gaze returned to Star as if he were pulled away from a stray thought. “Yes, I’ll get to that. I tried not to blame him for my mother’s disappearance. As we grew older and assumed our separate lives, I endeavored to trust him, to strengthen the blood bond between us, but he fought it. He didn’t want my friendship or my peace offerings, and he didn’t need them either. All on his own, he became Ravencliff’s greatest messenger to ever live. He moved to Evenspark to join up with the Interkingdom Carriers. He rode with them for many years, perhaps quitting just before you won your post.”

Star thought back to all of the riders she’d met during the years. “I have no recollection of him.” Surprisingly, the thought of missing his presence in the Interkingdom Carriers made her sad, like she’d missed a great opportunity to meet a legend before he fell to tragedy.

“It doesn’t matter.” Valen’s tone sounded bitter, as if he tried to be proud of Leer’s accomplishments but his hard feelings got in the way. A heavy weight burdened her heart in a deep melancholy at the estrangement of two cousins. She wished she could bring them back together and heal their relationship.

“So that’s why he has the horse tattoos?”

Valen blinked. “You’ve seen his tattoos?”

Star blushed. “He was half naked when I knocked on his door.”

“Figures.” Valen rolled his eyes. “He never liked to dress in formal attire.”

Whether it was Leer’s reluctance to dress up or Valen’s distaste of half-naked men, Star found his comment amusing. She stifled a smile and forced herself to think about the matters at hand. “That’s why he knew Zetta.”

“Who’s Zetta?”

“The superior of Evenspark’s Interkingdom Carriers. She knew who to send the letter to because he’d been a messenger previously.”

“Interesting.” Valen’s eyes shifted as if his mind were hard at work, calculating. “The treachery lies so deep within the system, and so high up.”

Star pursed her lips. “It could be anybody over there.”

“Hmm.” This time Valen put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. We aren’t done with our questioning.”

“He won’t tell you anything, even if he does know.”

“It depends if he wants his reputation cleared. We shall see.”

Valen began ascending the steps once again but Star did not follow. “You didn’t tell me why he was thrown out of the Royal Guard in the first place.”

“He wasn’t. He quit a few years back.”

“What?” Star couldn’t believe the twist in conversation. Valen skipped several paces ahead and she had to take two steps at a time to catch up. “What for?”

Valen shrugged. “I don’t know. He just up and quit one day. His horse is still in the stables here at the castle. The poor beast waits for another journey that will never come.” His attention strayed toward Star and he smiled, his eyes wistful. “Anyway, why don’t I see to it my page delivers your letters? You’ve been up all night and need to rest.”

“Yes, I have a long journey to prepare for.”

“Back to Evenspark, I presume.”

Although he said it, Star knew Valen’s hope was empty. Her tone grew sly. “If only it was that easy.”

“Come now, you can’t go saving the world all by yourself.”

“Who’s going to volunteer to go with me?” Star knew she had him in a bind, his duty sitting between both of them like a wall of bricks, but part of her wished he would choose her over his station.

“You know I would go if I could.”

Star kept her face stoic, not showing any inclination either way. “You’re the great ruler in training. They would never let you.”

“I know. And it would be irresponsible of me to run away.”

“It’s a death sentence for anyone else. No one can ride as fast as I can. They would be left behind.”

With her words, Valen suddenly froze.

“What? What did I say?” She thought back to her last statement. Then suddenly the answer dawned on Star. Leer.

“No.” Valen grabbed her arm. “You’re not going with Fallon.”

Star shook off his grip and walked back down the steps. “It just might be the one thing that can redeem him and the one way we will find anything out.”

“Did you hear anything that I’ve said about him? He can’t be trusted.” Valen followed Star to the dungeons. “He’s shifty, and he’s always looking out for his own good. He’d leave you stranded if it suited him best.”

“Look, Prince Valen.” Star turned around to face him. “I can take care of myself.”

“All I’m saying is that you’ll have enough to worry about out there. You don’t need an extra liability.”

“Would you prefer I go alone then?”

“I’d prefer you didn’t go at all, but seeing as I can’t forbid you, and you’re the best rider there is and the kingdom is on the verge of disaster, well, then…” Valen threw his arms up in the air. “Go ahead, ask him. He’s all yours.”

Star was so overcome with Valen’s consent she threw her arms around him, flinging him off balance on the steps. They teetered backward together and then settled in each other’s arms. She spoke with her eyes closed, holding him close. “Thank you for believing in me.”

Valen whispered in her ear, “I’ve always believed in you.”

Star pulled away, confused. “Always? But you’ve only known me for a few days.”

“There is something I must confess.” Valen leaned his head in to gaze into her eyes. “I didn’t know it at first, it was only a vague sense I’ve seen you before. But it came to me one night in a rush of memory.”

Star waited patiently. Ever since that day in the crowded hallways of the inner sanctuary, she’d wondered why he looked at her so strangely, but never found the courage or tenacity to ask.

“I attended your first riding tournament. I sat as a spectator in the bleachers. I watched you go back to save the woman who’d fallen off her horse, and then overtake the entire race and win with no contest.”

Star nodded. “That was me, yes.” Another memory tugged at her senses, something about the Midnight Ball after the closing ceremonies, but try as she might, she could not resurrect it.

“I believed in you then, and I believe in you now.”

They stood that way for some time, not knowing what to do next. Although she’d pulled back, he still held her in his arms. She wanted him to be the one by her side during her journey. She almost mouthed the words to ask, but her sense of honor held her back.

When he did speak, his voice broke on the words. “Come now, let’s find you a riding partner, shall we?”

* * * *

Leer lounged exactly where they’d left him on the bench, sprawled out on his broad back and whistling at the ceiling boards. “Missed me already?” he sang out as Valen and Star entered the cell.

Valen crossed his arms. “We have an offer.”

Leer cracked his knuckles and sat up, tilting his head as if to work out a chink. “Let’s hear it then.”

Valen’s nod in her direction reassured Star. He was going to let her lead. “I’m traveling north to investigate the source of the mist and find the lair of the Elyndra. I’m the fastest rider in Evenspark and need an equally fast companion to accompany me.”

Star saw surprise flicker on Leer’s face. She didn’t know if it was the madness of the offer or the fact he’d underestimated her.

“Protect her, bring her home safe, and you are free.” Valen held out his palm as if he offered the world.

Leer laughed softly. “A fool’s errand. You’ll be lucky if either of us come back alive.”

Valen was unsympathetic. “It is what it is, and let me remind you that treason against your government is punishable by death.”

“And an easier death it would be.” Leer’s brows rose. “A mere rope burn compared to being eaten alive.”

Valen turned around, his face crinkling in disgust. “Come, Miss Nightengale, he’s not interested.”

Star opened her mouth to press further, but the look in Valen’s eyes told her she’d be wasting her breath. She followed him toward the door of the cell.