The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 3) (39 page)

Maia saw Richard and Joanna walking toward them, both dressed in the gray cassock of the Aldermaston order. Richard also wore the chain and stole of his office as chancellor, but she knew he would not feel comfortable being on the grounds of Muirwood in his typical court attire.

Maia quickly dismounted, and Jon Tayt took her reins and began to lead the horses to the paddock. The grounds were crowded with families, and everywhere she looked, there were people doing chores. She had never seen it so busy.

“Welcome home, Maia,” Richard said. “It is good to be back.”

“How I have missed the abbey,” Maia said, giving Joanna a hug first. “Not long ago I was sneaking into the cloisters before dawn to read the tomes. I would give my crown to return to that simpler time.”

Joanna hugged her back affectionately. “I have missed seeing you, Maia. Augustin has changed, but I must confess to feeling a partiality for Muirwood. It may not be as grand, but it is home.” She took Richard’s hand and squeezed it. It was clear that their forced separation had taken a toll on them both.

“I was grateful to learn that Aldermaston Wyrich put you in charge of the abbey again,” Maia said as they began to walk back to the manor house together. “He has turned soldier, it seems.”

“There are many cases of Aldermastons stepping up to combat in the past,” Richard said. “I will admit that it gratifies me to be steward of Muirwood while he is gone. Refugees continue to arrive every hour, every day.”

“Is there enough room for the entire kingdom?” Maia asked him thoughtfully, gazing at the Cider Orchard. She saw Collier’s smile as he had watched her bite into a Muirwood apple—a memory that pierced her soul.

“Yes, truly,” Richard replied. “There are settlements from here all the way to the Tor. We keep people working, and everyone is willing to help. You can imagine what it takes to feed such a mass. The kitchens we have are running night and day, and several larger ones are being constructed. You should know, my lady, that aid has come from our allies. Some of your people in the north are being sheltered by Pry-Ree. They have already welcomed many from the Hundreds that have fallen up north. We have received word from the Earl of Forshee.”

“Dodd!” Maia exclaimed. “Poor Suzenne. She went on ahead to make sure we would be settled.”

“I have already told her,” Joanna said. “She was grateful to learn he is well. His army was trampled by the Naestors, but they have since regrouped and are now joined by Pry-rian archers. They travel behind the northern army invading our land and harry them with raids and attacks on their supply wagons. Their efforts have slowed the Naestors down somewhat and forced them to increase the numbers of soldiers guarding the wagons. He sent a message to his wife, which I am certain she will share with you.” Joanna paused, her look wise and thoughtful. “His force is no more than a tenth of what the Naestors are bringing down from the north, but he is doing what he can to make them pay for their progress.”

Maia sighed with relief at the news that he was alive. “I am so grateful to hear that,” she said. “Not knowing what had become of him was the worst part of Suzenne’s torture. Thank you. What else have you heard?”

Richard pointed to men hoisting large crates and boxes full of vegetables and sacks of grain. “The men unloading the wagon. That food comes from Avinion. They have been sending ships to Bridgestow loaded with provisions under Lord Paget’s leadership. He controls our supply lines and is quite organized. They know we are gathering our people into one location and they want to make sure we do not go hungry. It is risky because the armada is blockading the sea, but the Avinions sail wide to avoid them. Bridgestow is crowded with ships right now. It will not be long before the Naestors realize this and blockade that port as well, so we are gathering as many supplies as we can. The armada’s ships will prove harmful to us still.”

Maia looked at him with concern. “Ships can navigate the river, I know that, but they cannot land here in force, can they?”

“Let me explain,” Richard said. “The rivers can be navigated by individual ships, as you well know, but not enough to bring in a fleet. Still, the Dochte Mandar know the history of this abbey. They know about its defenses. If blood is shed on the grounds, the Leerings can summon waters to flood the lowlands. When that happens, the rivers gorge with water and the sea comes in. Muirwood has become an island in the past. I believe that is the Naestors’ strategy, Maia. If they bring in their army close enough, they will attempt to massacre enough people to trigger the abbey’s defenses and provide a path for their ships.”

Maia stared at him in surprise. “I had not realized that, Richard. Flooding the valley will save us from the army, but it will make us vulnerable to their ships. That would hurt us both, I think.”

Richard looked at her sternly. “Remember, they seek to
force
the Medium to do
their
will. What they cannot comprehend is that the Medium will not harm us if we are faithful. Their efforts will only lead to their own destruction.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I have no doubt the Medium will deliver us from the Naestors, Maia. The Covenant of Muirwood has been fulfilled. Yes, abbeys are being razed across these lands, but we have not been commanded to flee as we have been in the past. Sometimes the Medium gathers the wicked in one place to destroy them.” He frowned. “I only wish we could save everyone . . . including our foes. Before it is too late.”

Maia glanced at Joanna, and saw the same look of compassion in her eyes. The Tor was a witness to the Medium’s power to crush enemies that would not relent. Her heart grew heavy. She did not want to destroy all the Naestors.

She frowned, anguished by the knowledge of the violence that would come. “The Void is not about us,” she said softly. “If they press on, they will bring it on themselves.” She winced, feeling torn by conflicting emotions. Her people were being murdered by the Naestors and the Dochte Mandar. That made her angry. Yet they were being manipulated from within by the Victus, by years of ill-begotten convictions. “How can we prevent them from creating their own doom?”

Richard stared at her solemnly. He did not have the answer.

Maia needed time to think, but she was anxious to see Suzenne and hear the news. She found her friend unloading chests brought from the palace, and the two quickly embraced.

“I was relieved to hear that there has been word from Dodd at last!” Maia said, gripping Suzenne’s shoulders. She searched her friend’s face, trying to determine whether the news was hopeful or discouraging.

Suzenne squeezed her eyes shut, and then opened them and gave Maia a dazzling smile that sent relief rushing through her. “Oh, I am almost too overcome to speak.” She put a hand on her heart. “The news is good, Maia. I was so worried, and with good cause. Murer arrived under the cover of darkness, seeking Dodd’s help. He felt . . . wary when his steward told him she had arrived and asked to see him. The steward was excessively agitated, which gave Dodd a bad feeling. The Medium warned him to flee. He has always been sensitive to the Medium, Maia. He recognized the warning for what it was, even without knowing all the reasons. He left without even taking his cloak. Fetched his horse and rode to camp. Murer abandoned his manor and went to Billerbeck Abbey that night and burned it.”

Suzenne lowered her head and sighed with gratitude. “His army tried to halt the Naestors, but they were outnumbered and overrun. His force has been trapped behind our enemies, but he managed to get some Pry-rian hunters through with a message.”

“Thank Idumea,” Maia breathed. “If Murer had gotten him alone.”

Suzenne nodded. “Dodd felt the same way. He felt the temptation . . . the prideful conviction that he could handle her. I am grateful he heeded the Medium’s warning instead. He has been wounded in the fighting with the Naestors, but he promises it is nothing serious.” She screwed up her confidence. “I should not have doubted.”

“I am relieved.” The two friends embraced again.

“Have you had any word from Gideon?” Suzenne asked.

Maia knew that her own dark expression revealed the truth.

Maia spent the rest of the afternoon walking the abbey grounds, seeking the Medium’s guidance and direction as she went. She wished her grandmother were there so they could walk together as they had in the past. Whenever she thought about Sabine, a gnawing dread filled her stomach. She had lost her parents. Now she was about to lose her grandmother too.

“What would you have me do?” Maia whispered as she walked through the rows of purple mint, hearing the droning bees among them. Her thoughts were interrupted when she walked past a stranger. Maia returned the nod of the young fellow, who did not appear to realize who she was.

Wanting to be left alone to her brooding, she retreated to her mother’s garden. After opening the door with the Leering, she shut it behind her and leaned back against it, closing her eyes. There was solitude in this garden, yes, but there were ghosts as well. She remembered seeing the white lily amidst the crown of blue flowers. And the dazzling mix of forget-me-nots summoned Collier’s voice again and again in her mind. She sighed deeply and stepped away from the door so she could walk past the accusing plants and wander the rest of the garden.

Earlier that afternoon, she had used her Gift of Invocation to study all of the Leerings she could find on the grounds and learn their purposes. Even now, she felt the power of the abbey Leerings pressing at the edge of her awareness. They would obey her in unison, she knew. She could sense the water Leerings that would summon the rivers to flood the lower valleys of Muirwood Hundred in case of emergency. The last time those had been invoked was when Lia had used them to defend the abbey against the Queen Dowager, a hetaera.

Maia folded her arms tightly around herself, feeling a chill in the shadows of the garden. It was getting late and her stomach growled for supper. She pictured Collett and Thewliss, the two kitchen helpers Aloia and Davi. It had been several days since she had seen them. The little kitchen had become such a tranquil escape for her.

She heard the squeal from Thewliss’s cart wheels approaching the garden. Had her thoughts summoned the old man? Though he never spoke to her unless asked a direct question, he was a gentle, caring man and a good companion.

Maia rubbed her arms as she gazed at the trees and plants. The garden was beautiful and peaceful, yet the real world lay outside of it. She felt a little guilty about resting in this place of peace when her people were marching against their enemies. There were battles being fought throughout the realm. She thought about the Earl of Caspur and his valiant efforts to hedge the enemy’s advance and protect those who were fleeing to Muirwood. She thought of Aldermaston Wyrich and his young maston warriors marching south to aid him. How many soldiers were wounded and bleeding? How many would only find sleep in their graves?

Please, if there is a way to prevent this bloodshed,
she thought desperately, pouring out her heart to the unfathomable power of the Medium.
Would you have us be their slaves?
Would that suffice? They promised they would butcher us, but would it save lives on both sides if we agreed to do their bidding? Is that what you will from me?

She felt no answer from the Medium. Then a new thought nagged at her mind. Though she had visited every Leering around the grounds, she had not checked the Leerings that were actually hidden within the abbey. There were carvings inside that brought light, prevented plants from wilting, and served other purposes. She knew the story of how the residents of Muirwood had huddled within the abbey as the Queen Dowager began to burn it. Surely her entire kingdom could not fit inside, but was there another Leering that could be invoked to help them? Perhaps one capable of changing the heart of a man born to violence?

The thought niggled at her. Was such a thing possible? Her mind turned to the kishion, how his heart had softened and changed. What had happened to make it so? Her thoughts continued down this path as the door of the garden opened and Thewliss shuffled inside with his cart. Owen Page followed him inside.