The King of Anavrea (Book Two of the Theodoric Saga) (17 page)

Ireic opened his eyes to find his older brother
leaning on the table watching him with an interested look on his
face.

“It is not enough that the whole nation watches
my every move. Must you watch me?”

“I am going to watch as long as you are so
obviously stressed and preoccupied. What is going on?”

Ireic glared at his brother. “I was not
distracted. I gave Tremont and the situation my full
attention.”

“Except for when you knew he wasn’t looking,
like when he sought for an answer to one of your in-depth
questions. Ireic, I know that look. I haven’t spent years working
with you without learning to read you.”

“I have a headache,” Ireic offered
half-heartedly as he pushed back from the table and rose to his
feet. “They are getting worse.”

Trahern frowned. “It is more than that. I have
seen you more intensely involved in a meeting with a roaring
headache. What don’t you want me to know?”

The tone in Trahern’s voice focused Ireic’s
attention. The tightness around his brother’s mouth and the concern
in his eyes underscored the determination in his stance. Ireic
doubted that Trahern would let him walk out of the room without an
answer. His temples throbbed and the muscles in his neck tightened
painfully. Ireic didn’t feel like fighting. With a weary sigh, he
sat back down and placed his head between his hands.

“Lirth had a nightmare last night. She is
convinced it was a warning and something terrible will happen to
her soon.”

“And you believe this?” Trahern asked as he sat
down across the table.

“I have been reading the translation of the
Manuscripts that the Lisbrith sent me a while back and I believe
that the Kurios is capable of doing such things. Since He created
the world, time, and life, I believe it is conceivable that He can
warn of what is to happen. He does claim to be able to control what
happens.”

“That is what I have been taught as well.”
Trahern’s scrutiny betrayed no amusement or incredulity. He waited
calmly with genuine concern in his eyes.

“In the dream Lirth was been recaptured by the
man who kidnapped her from her brothers years ago and he threatens
to harm her. There is hope that it was just a nightmare and nothing
more.”

“So,” Trahern prompted.

“So, I ordered Liam to never leave her side
unless she is with me. Between the two of us, I am hoping to keep
her safe.”

Trahern nodded. “Is there any way to identify
this man? Does she see him in her dream?”

Ireic leaned back shaking his head. “I asked.
She dreams as she lives, blind. Despite knowing the monster was on
the council, I couldn’t discover his name. Without the
assassination attempts and rebellion, I would’ve caught the man by
now or at least discovered a name.”

“Liam knows most of the council members on
sight. If you notify him that the kidnapper will most likely be one
of them, he will be especially vigilant around them.”

Ireic nodded. “I already have, but I highly
doubt we will be meeting up with any council members out here.”

A deep bell tone resonated through the keep from
the direction of the kitchens. “Ah, lunch.” Trahern rose to his
feet.

Ireic followed, carefully stretching the sore
muscles in his back.

“How about a sparring match after lunch?”
Trahern offered. “You could loosen some of those knots, and I think
the exercise would be good for you.”

Reluctantly, Ireic shook his head. “I have to
review the troops and then draw up battle plans with the
strategist. I would love to trounce you, but I don’t have room in
my schedule.”

“Trounce me?” Trahern lifted an eyebrow and
grinned. “What makes you so sure that you will win? You have a
recovering shoulder.”

“I am younger and I don’t have a bum knee.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” Trahern replied as
he opened the door. “Remember years can bring wisdom. I have
learned a trick or two recently that would make it even.” He
laughed. “I guess I shall have to wait until later to try them
out.”

Ireic smiled weakly, his mind on Lirth. “We
shall see.”

~~~~~~

Lirth waited outside the doors to the great
hall, listening to the chatter beyond. Liam’s comforting presence
lingered next to her. He had already kindly described the corridor
for her, the great double doors, and the great hall beyond them.
Now he was standing beside her as she taught him how to be a
listener. The gong sounded again, thrumming through the floors and
soles of her feet with the resonance of its deep voice.

In the hall beyond the doors, benches scraped
the floor as people began to seat themselves in preparation for the
meal. The sounds were muffled by distance and the thick wooden
doors, but Lirth understood the drop in volume. The crowd watched
for the appearance of the king, the signal that the meal would soon
follow. Behind them, echoing in the corridor, she heard the
approaching foot falls of two men. It took her only a moment of
careful listening to recognize Ireic’s confident tread and her
brother-in-law’s distinctively uneven stride.

“Ireic and Trahern are coming,” she informed
Liam. Trahern suddenly laughed at something.

“I hear them. Did you identify them by their
voices?” Liam asked as he stepped closer.

“No, the fall of their feet.” She straightened
her shoulders and composed her face for the coming entrance into
the great hall. “But their voices confirmed my suspicions.”

Liam didn’t reply because just then Ireic and
Trahern rounded the last corner.

“Lirth.” Trahern greeted her as they approached.
Taking her hand, he pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “You
look almost as tired as Ireic, but you still manage to be
beautiful.”

Her confusion must have shown on her face, for
Ireic laughed. “Are you complimenting or insulting her, Trahern?”
Despite the mirth in his voice, Lirth could hear a leaden
weariness.

“Praising her, or course,” Trahern replied.
“What looks like exhaustion on you, looks like lady-like fatigue on
her. Basically you both look tired, but she is still
beautiful.”

“Hmm.” Ireic claimed Lirth’s hand with a slight
squeeze, making her heart flutter. Her face warmed as memories from
the previous night flooded her mind.

“Trahern has been trying to cheer me up and is
failing dismally.” Ireic drew her hand through his arm and tucked
it in the crook. While he was doing this, he surprised her with a
feather-light kiss on her forehead. “We will be able to catch a few
moments together after the meal,” he whispered in her ear. “But I
can only promise a few moments.”

Lirth smiled up at him to show him she was
pleased that he had made time for her. Then she turned her
attention to the happenings around them. The doors opened and the
procession to the head table began.

There was no fanfare. As far as Lirth could
hear, their entrance wasn’t announced, but it produced an effect
all the same. Silence fell over the waiting crowd as Ireic led her
across the smooth stone floor. Lirth prayed that she wouldn’t trip
on the step to the high table. Then she reprimanded herself for
worrying, especially when Ireic cued her with a single whispered
word at exactly the right moment. Turning, they faced the crowd and
waited for Trahern, General Tremont, and the steward to take their
places.

It started in the right corner of the room as a
low chant, but within moments the walls echoed with the cry. “Long
live King Ireic and his Queen.” Lirth felt Ireic’s response, a
mixture of surprise and joy. He raised his hand for silence and a
hush fell instantly over the room.

“When I fled Ana City, I feared Anavrea no
longer wanted me to be their king. Her people no longer trusted me
to rule, protect, and lead them. My heart was heavy with the
concern that they…you might prefer the King’s Council to my
leadership. So when I arrived here to find you waiting, ready and
willing to support my claim and not the council’s, I began to hope
again. Thank you.”

The applause deafened Lirth. Ireic tensed
beneath her touch. Some of them cried for a speech, but Ireic
ignored them. He assisted her to a seat. Then he took his own
place, thus signaling the beginning of the meal. Servers approached
and soon the tables below were silent except for the sounds of
eating. Lirth concentrated on eating while Trahern and Ireic
continued to talk war.

The company planned on marching out the next
morning before dawn. She needed to start packing right after the
meal.

Ireic, however, had other plans for her. As
servants began clearing the tables, he rose. “May I escort you for
a walk in the gardens?” he asked. She agreed and offered him her
hand. He told Liam to enjoy some time to himself. Leading her out
through the double doors, Ireic surprised her by ushering her off
to the right.

“This isn’t the way to the gardens.”

“I know.” He slipped an arm around her waist.
Guiding her around a couple of quick turns, he drew her through a
door and kicked it closed without releasing her. He backed her up
against the door.

“Ireic?” The lock fell into place with a solid
click.

“I have fifteen minutes before a man arrives to
escort me off to inspect troops.” His voice was close and husky. “I
intend to take advantage of that.” The palm of his left hand slid
across the side of her face, while his right tilted her chin up.
Before she could even think of protesting, he kissed her. Lirth
slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer, hoping to
distract him from the crisis at hand, even if only for a
moment.

~~~~~~

The next morning before the sun lightened the
horizon, Lirth found herself perched on a seasoned war horse. Mist
clung to her skin, forming cold droplets of water. Horses whinnied
off to the right. Men argued farther ahead and nearby Liam lectured
her honor guard, leaving him with explicit instructions that
covered every imaginable possibility.

She only paid heed to him with half her
attention. The other half focused on listening for the sound of her
husband’s voice. She had yet to talk to him this morning and she
missed him. She dimly remembered him climbing into bed after she
fell asleep. When she woke, however, the only evidence she hadn’t
dreamt of him was his flattened pillow.

Far off a bugle blew and a drum demanded
attention. The effect was instantaneous. The men scrabbled into
formation and suddenly Liam manifested, already mounted and at her
side.

“We are about to move out, Your Majesty,” he
informed her formally.

Inclining her head, she acknowledged his
service. The drum beat a marching rhythm in the distance. A horn
blared and the men began the day’s march. They waited awhile before
the progress forward reached them. Once it did, Lirth wished it
hadn’t. With it came the certainty that she wouldn’t be speaking
with Ireic anytime soon.

Lirth straightened her shoulders and held her
head high. Such was the life of a queen. Her duty involved looking
regal and worthy of the men’s defense. Resolving to make the best
of the situation, she tucked away the hope that she would see Ireic
later. Then she tightened her grip on the reins and prepared
herself for a long, dull day.

~~~~~~

Ireic didn’t allow himself the luxury of looking
back. The men would misinterpret the movement. Instead, he relied
on one of his honor guard to keep him abreast of how Lirth
fared.

“I see you are keeping an extra close guard on
my sister.” Aarint drew his mount alongside Ireic’s. “Is there
something I don’t know?”

Ireic frowned as he glanced at his
brother-in-law. Aarint’s gaze was measuring and sharp.

“She had a dream two nights ago. She thinks it
warns of something terrible happening to her in the future.” Ireic
avoided looking Aarint’s way again. “I just want to be sure I am
doing all I can to protect her.”

“From what?”

Briefly, Ireic related the dream to Aarint. “I
have covered all the possibilities.”

“Except for the reality that you cannot protect
her from everything.” Aarint’s tone was almost exactly the same as
Lirth’s, mild acceptance.

“Lirth said that too.”

Aarint studied Ireic until he grew
uncomfortable. Finally, Ireic turned and asked, “What is it?”

“You still haven’t faced the truth.” His
brother-in-law frowned.

“Do you want your sister to die?” Even as the
words fell from his mouth, Ireic knew that he was being unfair.

“No,” Aarint replied with surprising calm. Ireic
internally shook at the thought of losing Lirth. “I am saying that
you aren’t facing the fact that the Kurios counts our days. You
cannot prevent it if that is so.”

“Would you rather I do nothing?” Ireic stared at
his brother-in-law in disbelief.

“No. Protecting her is the right thing to do. I
am just concerned about the tenacity with which you are fighting
the reality that you can’t control everything.”

“I am not a believer in the Kurios, Aarint. I
don’t share the faith that you and Lirth seem to invest in Him and
His love.”

“Oh.” Aarint’s face grew sad. “When I saw you
reading the Manuscripts, I assumed.”

“I am not sure I can put my trust in a deity
that does such terrible things to his followers. First He took her
sight, then her family and security. Now He won’t promise to stop
there.”

“He doesn’t do evil, He allows it.”

“Regardless, I am not reassured.”

“The Manuscripts promise that the Kurios will
protect those He loves.”

“But He has done terrible things to others who
have followed Him. I read the part of the Manuscripts about the
rich man who lost everything.”

“He also gained it all back and more. The Kurios
has a purpose in all that He does. He does not allow suffering into
His children’s lives without a good purpose, one worth the
pain.”