The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (15 page)

Everything happening was beyond him. He was an integral part of Aelina
e’
s future, he could admit that to himself finally. He had to survive to protect the Darennsai, and to do that, he needed to take the life of any who opposed him.

Sweat slicked his palm and loosened his grip on the sword. H
e’
d only taken one life, and that had been to save his own. This new enemy could have killed him at any moment during the fight, but he had
n’
t. A chilling trickle of realization crept from Rhoan
e’
s crown down his spine to settle in his gut. This man did
n’
t want Rhoane dead. Quite the contrary. He wanted him alive to track his moves, study him, learn his weaknesses.

Rhoane glanced at the other men gathered in the courtyard. Who among them was also a spy? Did the spies work for Lliandra? Or Amdi? Or perhaps even his own father? Who could he trust?

H
e’
d been too n
aï
ve in his dealings. That had to end. From this moment forward, his life would be devoted to protecting the Darennsai. Until her birth, he would protect the secret of her parentage and what Julieta had told hi
m—
that she would live offworld. Until he knew who to trust, he would assume everyone was his enemy, including Faisal.

Rhoane cast a quick grin over his shoulder at the king. Yes, he would train with Faisa
l’
s men. He would learn all there was to know about being a lethal killer. He would gather information not for any monarch, but for himself. What he chose to share would be his decision, not theirs.

The men shifted uneasily, as if sensing the change in Rhoane.

He approached his target with quiet efficiency, and before the man had a chance to speak, impaled him on his sword, twisting it savagely before he pulled it free. The other men gasped and stepped back, wary they were next. Rhoane casually took the scimitar from his victim and slit his throat with the razor-sharp blade. He released his grip on the weapon and it clattered to the ground. The sound echoed off the buildings in chilling, dulcet tones.

Rhoane met each ma
n’
s stare, weighing their worth in his mind
.“
This ma
n’
s loyalty was not to me or to your king. Let it be known, this is how I deal with my enemies
.”
His heavy footfalls echoed on the tile as he stormed away.

He glanced to the cloudless sky toward Dal Tara
.
Mother
.
He sent the thought to the heavens
.
I accept my oath and all that you asked of me
.
Blood dripped from his sword to splash on his boot. His hand was stained crimson.

Faelara saw him and hurried over, concern etched in her features
.“
Rhoane, yo
u’
re bleeding
.
”

“
I am not injured
.”
He was just tired, so very tired
.“
But there is a man in the courtyard who is
.
”

“
What have you done
?”
Her amber eyes searched his. Questions lingered in their depths.

“
What I must
.”
He pressed his lips to her temple and breathed in the scent of her perfume. Right then he needed something familiar. Something comforting to soften the horror of what h
e’
d done. What he would do in the future
.“
We should go swimming this afternoon
.
”

Surprise lit her face
.“
Wha
t’
s happened? Yo
u’
r
e…
changed
.
”

“
Aye. I am
.”
His weariness weighed him down
.“
I am afraid we all will be much altered by the end of this
.
”

He left with the cryptic words hanging between them. It was true. No one would be immune to the changes the Darennsai would bring. Good or bad, life as they knew it would cease to exist.

Chapter 13

FAELARA inhaled the heady scent of spice, a grin on her lips. Sh
e’
d been surprised by Lliandr
a’
s agreement to allow Summerlands merchants to sell their goods in Talaith, but grateful all the same. Sh
e’
d heard rumors the empress liked the idea so much sh
e’
d opened trade routes to Danuri, as well. Faelara looked forward to seeing the changes for herself when she returned to Talaith.

Her stomach pinched at the thought. For four seasons sh
e’
d stayed in the Summerlands, finding one excuse after another not to return home. Baehlon had married Micah three seasons past, but sh
e’
d heard he spent much of his time away from the palace. That gave her little comfort. He coul
d’
ve said no to the empress. He coul
d’
ve fought for Faelara.

And she coul
d’
ve been honest with him and told him how she felt.

They were both to blame, but that did
n’
t mean she had to live under Lliandr
a’
s roof and watch the newlyweds ogle each other. Gods forbid what sh
e’
d do when Micah became pregnant, and eventually she would. That was, after all, Lliandr
a’
s reason for putting the pair together. For the empress, marriage rarely meant love, but was always for political advantage.

A shadow caught her attention, and she glanced to her left. A swath of chestnut hair caught in the sun, and she squinted into the darkened alcove. Seeing nothing, she shook her head. For several days sh
e’
d had the feeling she was being watched, that someone spied on her whenever she strolled the market or when she took Prince Javeyd to the private cove, where she taught him to swim. He was a stocky boy with a healthy laugh and the sweetest black curls. Faelara had quite lost her heart to the child. If she were honest with herself, sh
e’
d admit it was the prince who had saved her from absolute heartache.

Queen Prateeni continued to care for her firstborn, but she allowed Faelara unprecedented access to him, as if sensing her need to bond with another. She and the queen had grown close in the time Faelara had been in the Summerlands. Especially with Rhoan
e’
s extended trips to gods knew where. He often disappeared for several moonturns at a time. At first, she worried about him constantl
y—
he was still little more than a boy and innocent about the worl
d—
but each time he returned, she saw in him a maturity h
e’
d not possessed before.

King Faisa
l’
s training was harsh and often caused Rhoane distress, but he kept his feelings closely guarded. On the rare occasions h
e’
d confessed to her his anguish, sh
e’
d been shocked to learn the extent of his training. The Summerlands king was turning Rhoane into more than a spy or an assassin, and Faelara was
n’
t sure she liked it one bit.

But Faisal was determined to see Rhoane prepared for what was to come. Although, no one knew when or what would happen, so his approach was to be ready for anything at any time. Simple logic, Faelara had to admit, but upsetting all the same.

Another movement caught her eye, and she glared at the shadows. Either she was losing her mind, or someon
e
wa
s
following her.

A figure hovered to her left, much too close, and Faelara suppressed a cry. She stepped aside, but a hand caught her waist and pulled her against a solid torso.

“
Unhand me this instant, you brute
!”
She swiveled to face the menace and immediately softened
.“
Rhoane. What in Ohli
n’
s name are you doing
?
”

“
I have told you to be more cautious, Faelara. If I wished you harm, you would be dead by now
.
”

“I’
m shopping. How much harm could befall me in a crowded marketplace
?”
She kept her tone casual, but his words hit true. If sh
e’
d had the prince with her, sh
e’
d have left them both open to being kidnapped. Rhoane had indeed taught her better than that.

He picked up a pot and inhaled deeply
.“
Hanan has the finest spices of all Aelinae. But do not tell my sister I said so. She believes hers are superior
.”
He winked at her and called the merchant over. After he gave his order, he turned back to her
.“
How have you been, Faelara
?
”

This time h
e’
d been gone half a season, the longest trip yet. From his pale skin, she assumed h
e’
d been somewhere on the mainland
.“
To be honest,
I’
ve missed you. And
I’
m beginning to miss Talaith, as well
.
”

“
Then I bring you good news, I hope
.”
His eyes searched hers, and a tremble of fear started at her scalp
.“
Empress Lliandra is with child. She wishes for you to return at once to help deliver the baby
.”
A cloud passed over his eyes, turning them a darker shade of green.

“
What are
n’
t you telling me
?
”

A grin broke his solemn features
.“
You know me too well, my friend. Lliandra expects this child to be the One, but she will be disappointed. This is not the Eirielle, but a boy child conceived from a minor noble
.
”

“
How do you know
?”
Rhoane had ways of knowing things Faelara had long since stopped trying to uncover, yet the question always came.

“
I just do
.”
Again, the sly grin.

Hanan returned with Rhoan
e’
s spices and fawned over Faelara for several minutes. Each week, she visited him to get the ingredients needed for her tea
.“
What can I get you today? The usual
?
”

Faelara gripped his hand, not wanting to say the words
.“I’
m afraid
I’
ll need more this week. It seems w
e’
ll be leaving soon, and I do
n’
t know when
I’
ll return
.
”

Hana
n’
s face fell
.“I’
m sorry to hear it, my lady. Tabul
!”
He called his eldest son over to fetch Faelar
a’
s goods.

She gave him a longer list than usual and promised to return in a little while to collect them. Her hand slid comfortably into the crook of Rhoan
e’
s arm. They strolled the market, purchased several fruits for the journey, and chatted about his travels (as much as he was willing to share) and the events at the palace.

“
What will you do once w
e’
re in Talaith
?”
Faelara asked
.“
Certainly Faisal wo
n’
t continue to send you on mysterious missions
.
”

Rhoane chuckled good-naturedly
.“
The king has been more than kind to me during this time. If he has need of me, I will help, but while we are in Talaith, I will make it my duty to learn all I can about Lliandr
a’
s court. With you gone, she was reluctant to allow me to stay for longer than a few days at most
.”
He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially
,“
I do not think she likes me overmuch. I refuse to share her bed, and this vexes her
.
”

Laughter bubbled up from Faelar
a’
s sternum, which lifted her mood
.“
I can only imagine. Sh
e’
s not accustomed to men telling her no
.
”

RHOANE carried their purchases as they trundled up the steep road to the palace where the king and queen waited for them. In Faisa
l’
s hands was Lliandr
a’
s royal summons. Tears streaked both their faces, and Faelara was taken aback that they would miss her as much as she would miss them.

“
You will see your father again
,”
Faisal told her as he hugged her to within an inch of her life.

Sh
e’
d missed her father terribly. Seeing him would bring her great comfort.

They sailed for Talaith two days later. The journey home was much less traumatic, with no attacks, sickness, or storms. When they rounded the rocky coast and saw Talait
h’
s harbor, Faelara burst into tears, mortifying the few sailors who stood close to her. She had
n’
t realized how much sh
e’
d missed home.

Rhoane put a protective arm around her shoulder, and she sank into him, burying her face and her tears. By the time they were to unload, sh
e’
d composed herself enough to disembark with the dignity of a lady.

Not much had changed in the four seasons of her absence. Lliandra was even more demanding now that she was with child. The poor father, a minor noble who lived on the coast near Gaarendahl, hovered over the empress to the point of distraction. She was eight moonturns along and big enough to suspect twins, but Faelara sensed only one child in her womb. A male, as Rhoane had predicted.

Which meant after his birth, h
e’
d be sent to live with his father, with a yearly stipend and no communication with his mother.

Except the child would first have to prove he was
n’
t the Eirielle. Despite Rhoan
e’
s insistence the Eirielle would be female, Lliandra refused to trust his opinion.

On the night of his birth, the goddess Nadra appeared with the sword Ohlin had made for their daughter Daknys. Two dragons flanked the hilt, and a ruby sparkled upon the pommel. Those in the room gasped when they saw it, for most believed the sword had been lost.

When the newbor
n’
s palm was placed upon the pommel, he screamed as if burned. Nadra shook her head and disappeared with the sword. Those in the room breathed a sigh of relief, but the empress remained unaffected. The nursemaid handed the child to the father, and he was whisked away.