SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 (14 page)

"Who else is going with them?" I quavered. I felt like crying; never had I found someone who supported me as thoroughly as Zaria did.

"Bekzi and Gerrett," Sal sighed. "Don't let this upset you—it's important."

"Will they come back?"

I sounded small.

Lost.

"I don't know," Sal lowered his eyes. "They didn't tell me that."

* * *

Ilya

As much as we'd been told about where we were going, there were things that hadn't been said. I saw concern in Zaria's eyes as she dressed for our destination. She knew things I didn't, of that I was certain.

"Going as servants. Not like," Bekzi shook his head. "They treat us bad, I think."

I dislike this
, Gerrett's mental words echoed Bekzi's spoken ones.

Honey, I wish you weren't involved in this
, Zaria strode toward Gerrett and took his face in her hands.

I go to protect you
, he replied, fierce determination in his sending.
I will do what my talent allows, to hide you if necessary
.

"Thank you," Zaria put her arms around his waist and hugged him.

I watched as an expression of happiness transformed his face as his arms folded about her.

Somehow, I would have to share her with others, whose thoughts, like mine, were to protect her life with ours.

* * *

Quin

"Our objective remains the same," Kooper announced at our meeting. It upset me that I wouldn't get to tell Zaria good-bye before she left. I wasn't told whose decision it was, only that it was for the best.

It made me angry.

I sat in the compound's library where the meeting was held with the rest of us, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. If I were ever told who made the decision, I'd likely be tempted to treat them to the same punch Zaria delivered to Caylon's face.

He still wore the darkening bruise—he'd refused to ask for healing from Kevis Halivar.

Perhaps he knew better than to ask me; I might have refused.

Why were you not sent with Zaria?
I sent to Kevis, who'd taken a chair near the door.

I may be transported back and forth, if it becomes necessary
, he offered a mental shrug.
I will be invisible to all except those from our team
, he added.
It helps to have powerful friends—and mates
.

Yes it does
, I agreed. I was more than grateful that Kaldill and Daragar protected BlackWing VII and all aboard.

Wait
, I sent.
Since Gerrett is going with Zaria
, I didn't finish.

Valegar's father has suggested a substitute Sirenali, and he is already on board the ship
, Kevis ducked his head to hide a smile.

Who?

His name is Morrett
, Kevis replied.

Do you think?
I began.

Yes, and I believe Nefrigar has already informed him that he has brothers.

Where did Nefrigar find him?

Working as Chief Librarian for Prince Amlis in New Fyris
. Kevis didn't hide the smile this time—it had become a full-blown grin.
Well
, Kevis continued,
Morrett is an avid reader as well as a scholar
.
Nefrigar has supplied him with a comp-vid containing many volumes that can only be found in the Larentii Archives. Morrett is perhaps the happiest of librarians at the moment
.

I hope Terrett and I get to meet him soon.

It can be arranged
.

"Therefore, we will send two of ours in disguise tomorrow, with the weekly delivery bound for the research facility," Kooper said. I turned back to his announcement; more news of Terrett's brother would have to wait.

* * *

Karathia—Past

Zaria

A Karathian month before the attack that killed Warlend, Wylend Arden's father, was the time in which when we arrived.

No, we weren't allowed to interfere with the coup; Li'Neruh Rath was very specific about that.

What I hadn't expected was where we'd end up—in the Queen's Palace, which was occupied by Helsa Blackmantle-Arden.

We were to be her servants, waiting on her, her children and grandchildren. She'd recently cleaned house, firing most of her servants and hiring new ones. She'd only kept a handful of those who'd previously served her. I suppose if you were one of King Warlend's Queens, you could do whatever you wanted.

Someone had cleared the way for our employment—Ilya, Bekzi, Gerrett and me. No, we weren't expected to perform any sort of sorcery in the execution of our duties. Gerrett was the one I'd worry for if that were the case. Bekzi held his own power and could do anything required of him.

Regardless, Gerrett was listed on his paperwork as a mute First-level, whose work would keep him cleaning, dusting and other various duties involving near-invisibility.

Bekzi and I—we'd been hired for the kitchen.

Ilya was hired as the stablemaster, since Helsa's family enjoyed riding. As Ilya was Falchani-trained to care for horses and such, I had no worries about him.

At least we didn't have to deal with Helsa right away; the hiring had already taken place and we only had to report to our superiors to learn what was necessary to serve the family.

I wondered when we'd meet Helsa's grandchildren, who were in their late teens and destined to cause more trouble than most people I'd ever met. That included a rogue god and others who practiced evil.

You see this?
Bekzi sent as we were led through the enormous castle toward the kitchen at the back.

I see it
. I did. If it weren't made of, or covered by, expensive fabric, it was gilded and decorated with precious stones or made of a precious metal or the rarest of woods. This home compared to the royal palace of Karathia, nearly one hundred miles away.

One hundred miles is nothing to those who can fold space. This home, unlike the palace, was nearly surrounded by a scenic lake bordered by a forest. To me, it looked like something from a fairy tale.

You think Warlend loves her this much, or rebuilt it for her to keep her away from the palace?
I sent. It was more than evident that all the furnishings and embellishments were new or recently updated.

She complain. He give
, Bekzi replied.

Yeah. I get the same idea
. I stared up at a highly decorated plaster ceiling, washed over in gold.

"Be careful of the carpets," the servant who led us through the house cautioned. "They're from Serendaan and cost much."

They still cost
, Bekzi informed me.

He and I wore the plain, black uniforms of the household. I'd already transformed my long, black skirt to a split skirt, because I hated it the other way. Nobody would know—it was still full and swished about my ankles as I walked behind Bekzi.

We expected to cook right away
, Bekzi's mental sigh echoed his drooping shoulders.

Yeah, I saw it in the chamberlain's face when we walked in
, I confirmed.
Welcome to the world of being on duty all the damn time
, I told myself.

* * *

Jaledis

Quin

I understood that I'd have to go with the delivery; I merely hadn't considered who else might go with me. My duty was to read whoever came to inspect the goods destined for Ruther Kend's research facility. The one assigned to go with me would protect me as well as he or she could.

Queen Lissa was the one to volunteer.

"I don't go into the field as often as I once did," she reassured me when my jaw dropped at her appearance. "In this case, it's for the best."

"Thanks, Gran," Bel Erland stepped forward to embrace her. I received a hug from her after Bel Erland stepped aside.
Never forget how much we love you
, the Queen whispered in mindspeech before letting me go.

"We have information on how to present yourself and the protocol of the delivery job," Kooper said. "We'll meet after dinner to make sure everything is in place."

"It'll be fine," Lissa smiled at me.

How could I tell her that something churned in my belly, and I hadn't a clue about what it meant.

* * *

Karathia—Past

Gerrett

Queen Helsa had already dismissed three of her new servants. Two she sent out the door with burned flesh from the spells she'd thrown at them as they cowered.

I'd been pressed into serving her tea in her massive sitting room, which held a window overlooking the most scenic portion of the lake about her home.

"This had better be right," she snapped as I poured tea carefully into her cup and added two small spoons of sugar, just as Zaria had directed. I didn't question Zaria's knowledge; I did question Helsa's sanity and unpredictable anger.

She wore her long, blonde hair braided and pinned atop her head, like a makeshift crown. No doubt she'd had it lightened with a spell. Her features were even and would be considered beautiful by those just as shallow as she.

"This is the mute servant, Mother," a man strode into the room to take a chair near the Queen's.

"Good. He can't talk back like that other filth. I've been forced to get rid of three already," she waved a hand that a servant had worked on to carefully shape the nails and stain them red.

That's Wellend
, Zaria reported. She'd asked to look through my eyes and I'd gratefully allowed it.
He takes his tea with no sugar, and usually has two cups. Wait for him to get nearly to the bottom of the first before refilling his cup
.
Serve his tea, then place two of the tiny cakes on a saucer for Helsa, and lay the fork carefully by her right hand so she can reach it easily
.

I did as Zaria said, moving carefully but not so slow as to draw Helsa's ire. Wellend nodded distractedly when I served his tea; Helsa watched like a bird of prey as I set two tiny cakes on a saucer in front of her before placing her fork exactly as Zaria said.

"Hmmph," Helsa rumbled and lifted the fork to examine it for stains or spots. Temporarily satisfied, she cut into the first cake and lifted a bite to her mouth. I waited, worried that she'd find something wrong with Zaria and Bekzi's baking. I knew they were exceptional at it, but taste is always subjective.

Helsa rolled the taste of it on her tongue before swallowing and nodding. Turning toward Wellend to hide the relief in my eyes, I saw that he'd almost reached the bottom of his cup.

Lifting the teapot, I silently offered to refill it. With a nod, Wellend set the cup down so I could pour.

"Where's Wallend?" he asked.

"Oh, he and Valia went to visit her mother. The twins wanted a holiday. They'll be back in three days."

"Ah."

Wellend's thinking that Valia merely wanted to get away from Helsa
, Zaria sent.
He's wishing he could have gone with his brother
.

Wasn't he invited?
I asked.

He's just gotten back from court with his father
, Zaria explained.
Helsa has no love for Warlend—or Warlend's other wife, Terez. Mostly, Helsa loves Helsa
.

I can see that for myself
, I returned.
Is that the ring—the heir's ring—on his finger?

Wellend wore a ring on his right hand. It held one large, clear, faceted jewel, surrounded by black diamonds in a pale gold setting.

Tiralian crystal
, Zaria confirmed my guess.
It holds the heir's spell
.

Was it made by a warlock or a witch?
I asked.

Neither
, Zaria answered.
This bears consideration
, she added.

* * *

Zaria

The ring I'd seen in the casket had been perverted. Not only did it bear a red stone instead of Tiralian crystal, the gold around it was plain instead of the paler, more expensive version. No black diamonds surrounded the stone, either.

Something was very, very wrong, here—there was no other way to explain it. The ring Wellend wore had been crafted by a Grey House wizard, more than fifty thousand years before it came to him. Warlend had worn it before he took the throne, but it was Warlend's father, Worlend, who'd had the ring made to designate the heir.

I couldn't say as yet who'd perverted the ring in the casket, or what it had been designed to do in the beginning; it wasn't a face I could easily read. And, as it hadn't been perverted yet where I currently was, I only had a houseful of suspects at this point.

Poor Gerrett had been pressed into serving tea to Queen Helsa, who truly was a privileged bitch, used to getting whatever she wanted. She didn't care whom or what she hurt in order to get it, either.

"More servants come tomorrow," Bekzi sighed beside me, tossing the kitchen towel he held over a shoulder and shaking his head at the ingredients covering the prep table for the feast we'd planned for dinner.

We'd put a beef and chicken dish on the menu for the evening meal; Helsa favored both, so we hoped to appease her by giving her and the rest of her household a choice.

Any of her family in residence was expected to join her for dinner and dress appropriately. I could think of nothing worse than dressing in uncomfortable clothing just to have a meal with the sow. Except Bekzi and I had to prepare the meal and hope to please her unpredictable whims.

* * *

Jaledis

Quin

"What's wrong?" Berel asked. He'd wakened after midnight to find me sitting up in bed beside him.

"I don't know," I said, wrapping arms about myself to stop the shivering. "Something's wrong, I just can't understand what it is."

"Something about tomorrow?" He pulled himself into a sitting position beside me.

"I don't know," I mumbled. "I feel like something terrible will happen, but I have no idea when or what."