Voice Of The Demon (Book 2) (41 page)

With her voice barely controlled, she turned back to Bella. ‘He’s here, isn’t he?’

‘Yes.’ Bella nodded, calmly. ‘Neil says they arrived a couple of hours ago.’

‘He shouldn’t have come.’

‘No. But he’s here now and there’s nothing we can do about it. Neil put them in the Falcon Tower. With any luck, nobody will bother them there.’

‘Bella . . .’ Jenn took a step forward, unable to voice the horrible confusion which battled inside her. ‘I . . . Will you stay with me tonight and make sure I don’t do anything wrong?’

Bella’s face softened a little. She crossed the room and put her hands on Jenn’s shoulders. ‘Where else would I be? I know you’re afraid; it’s only natural.’

‘I’m not afraid,’ Jenn said. ‘It’s just that . . . I think . . . well. . . I just don’t want to marry him. I can’t help it.’

In answer, Bella pulled her close, stiffly at first and then gentler. Jenn held on to her and tried to still the shaking which reached to the core of her soul.

‘You’ve come so far, Jenn,’ Bella murmured, her voice low and soft. ‘You won’t fail now. You don’t need me to tell you that you have no choice. But have no fear. I will stay by your side, no matter what. You are my sister.’

Jenn moved back a little and gazed up into that face which was so like her own. Bella had been so distant to her since the news of this wedding had arrived. Nevertheless she’d taken care of the arrangements, taken care of Jenn – and
now she stood there, saying words of comfort. Would their mother have said these things? Would their mother have offered comfort like this – knowing there was no way out of this terrible situation?

Who had said these things to Bella? Who had stood beside Bella on her wedding day?

‘You loved Lawrence when you married him, didn’t you?’

‘Yes. It took me a long time, but he was very patient. I was lucky to have such a good man.’

‘Lucky, yes,’ Jenn murmured. ‘I’m sorry, Bella. I’ve been such a trial to you.’

‘You’re apologizing to me?’ Bella let out a little laugh. ‘Yes, you are a trial. But that doesn’t matter any more. Come, try and calm down. You only make yourself suffer more like this. We both know you’ll go through with it. You could have run away a dozen times over the last two weeks – but you didn’t. Try and stop crying, Jennifer. You don’t want him to see your eyes all red and puffy, do you?’

Jenn grunted a laugh and stepped back, wiping her hands over her face. ‘I’m ugly compared to Eachern’s real choice. Samah has ten times my beauty. He’s only got me because she ran away. I should have done the same. I don’t give a damn if Eachern thinks I’m pretty or not!’

Bella smiled and reached for the cup of sweet wine. She took Jenn’s hands and wrapped them around the cup. With her voice barely above a whisper, she replied, ‘I wasn’t talking about Eachern.’

If there was ever only one thing you could say about Robert, it would be that he had a fine sense of occasion. Commanding Micah to do the same, Robert had put on his very best finery in preparation for the banquet. Black velvet doublet with a row of black pearl buttons running down the front,
an item of extraordinary value. The remainder of his attire was also black, with the exception of the brooch worn at his throat: the Douglas eagle, hand-tooled in ebony and gold and said to be more than five hundred years old. With his dark hair falling on to his shoulders, his tall frame commanded attention. If Robert had tried to make an impression, he couldn’t have done any better. There was hardly a head that didn’t turn as they entered the great hall of Elita.

‘I just hope there’s no one here I owe money to,’ Robert murmured lightly as they made their way through the crowds. Music was chiming from the gallery above, but it was almost inaudible over the laughter and conversation in the hall.

Micah tried to keep to Robert’s side, but it was difficult. People kept noticing Robert, making as if to approach him, then stopping midway. At this rate, it would take them half the night just to get a cup of ale!

‘Now there’s a pretty lass, Micah,’ Robert paused and bent to whisper in his ear. ‘She’s smiling at you.’

‘Aye, my lord,’ Micah murmured, his attention caught elsewhere. ‘But there’s one prettier than the whole put together.’

Robert turned his head to see where he was looking. Jenn was seated upon the dais, Bella and some other ladies close by. Jenn wore her hair up, but even so, dark tendrils fell down her throat and on to her shoulders. She wore a gown of deepest sunset blue which made her skin glow in the candlelight like the moon on a frosty night. Even her eyes shone more brilliantly than usual.

‘Go ahead, Micah. She’ll want to talk to you.’

‘But . . .’

‘Please, Micah.’ Robert turned away and moved through the crowd to the other side of the room. Left alone, Micah had no choice but to approach the dais. Jenn saw him coming and smiled as much as she dared in this company.

‘Lady Jennifer,’ Micah bowed in his best courtly manner. ‘You look beautiful. And you, Lady Bella.’

‘It was . . . good of you to come,’ Jenn replied a little nervously.

‘Yes,’ Bella nodded, favouring him with a smile. She too seemed nervous, but with so many people around it was easy to see why.

‘Micah,’ Jenn came to her feet, stood as close as she dared, ‘you have to warn him. This is not . . . Please, just stay with him. I don’t want him to be alone.’

With a glance at Bella, Micah nodded. Whatever Jenn was referring to, Bella made no attempt to stop Jenn’s warning – or elaborate on it. He dropped his voice low so only Jenn could hear him. ‘If you want to get out of this, just say so. One word. That’s all it will take.’

At that, Jenn smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling with such a warmth it made his heart turn somersaults. ‘Thank you for asking, Micah. But the answer is no. You know why. Now, please, go and stay with him. There will be time for us to talk later.’

With another small bow, Micah turned away and sighted Robert far away down the hall. He was talking to somebody quietly, but there was an enormous amount of attention directed at him. As Micah made his way to Robert’s side, he tried to catch the odd piece of conversation, but, strangely, it all stopped the moment he came close, and sprang up again the moment he passed. The only words he did catch were ‘dark angel’.

Yes, Robert did have a fine sense of occasion, with his black attire and raven hair. A pity he didn’t have an equally fine sense of self-preservation.

Robert saw him coming and left his companion. ‘Short conversation?’

‘It appears she doesn’t want to talk to me either,’ Micah murmured. ‘However, there is somebody who does want to talk to you. Lord Jacob.’

Waving them over, Jacob sat in his chair by the fire, surrounded by his many friends, some of whom melted away as Robert and Micah approached. Before the old Earl stretched the entire hall, glittering with important people from all over the country. His chair backed to the edge of
the dais, as though, on this night, Jacob had no desire to sit above his guests, but to be one with them.

‘I’m glad you accepted my invitation, Robert. If anyone should be here today, it is you.’

Robert gave Jacob a wry smile. ‘Thank you for inviting me. I’ll admit I was surprised.’

‘The actions of both friends and enemies often surprise us. How we react to them is the important thing.’

Exuding his usual charm, Robert greeted the others surrounding Jacob. However, all of them, to a man, appeared to be waiting: it was as though there were something else going on here other than a wedding celebration. Micah was just starting to feel very uncomfortable when the room suddenly hushed. For the first time, he could hear the musicians properly – but that only made him feel worse. Turning, ready to face an enemy, Micah saw the crowd behind them part and two men walk towards them.

Instinctively, Micah moved until he was slightly in front of Robert. However, Robert put a gentle hand on his shoulder in reassurance and moved him aside. As the two men came closer, gentlemen bowed, ladies curtsied, until there were only three men left upright in the hall. Robert, Tiege Eachern – and Selar.

‘Welcome back to Lusara,’ Selar said loudly enough for all to hear. ‘I’m sorry you have not yet had the opportunity to visit us at court. But after so long away from home, you must have had many affairs which required your immediate and urgent attention.’

After an almost imperceptible pause, Robert bowed to Selar. Although the air was thick with tension, Robert appeared completely at ease. He moved and spoke as though he’d seen Selar only the week before, rather than four years ago. It was indeed a remarkable talent, one which Micah wished he shared.

‘Thank you, Sire,’ Robert murmured gracefully. ‘You are indeed correct. The recent death of my brother has only increased my responsibilities to my people.’

‘Not to mention the death of your uncle,’ Eachern grunted.

Selar turned a fleeting attention on those standing close. Instantly they moved away until only Jacob was left sitting in his chair, while Baron Campbell pushed his way through to stand close by. Both men were silent but unrepentant. They’d known this confrontation would happen. What else did they know?

Micah could hardly control the jumping in his stomach. This was what Jenn had tried to warn him about. Selar would undoubtedly want Micah to vanish, but there was no power on this earth that would make him leave Robert’s side now.

The King surveyed them all with the same detached air of contempt he’d always maintained. He looked no older, despite the last four years; he appeared to be in the best of health. His fair hair shone in the candlelight, his grey eyes were bright and direct, set off by the tawny linen tunic he wore, jewelled with rubies and emeralds. Even the sword on his hip had been polished to perfection.

‘Your brother’s death must have been a great blow to your mother,’ Selar said casually. ‘It must indeed be tragic to lose a child so young.’

Robert didn’t even flinch. ‘It has been very hard on her, Sire. But she is well enough. She takes great comfort in the Church, as I’m sure you remember.’

Now it was Selar’s turn not to flinch. Instead, he glanced at Eachern, then at Jacob. Of Micah’s presence, he seemed completely unaware. The hum of conversation was almost back to normal now. Out of the corner of his eye, Micah could see Jenn and Bella still standing on the dais, no more than twenty feet away. Neither moved, but both watched, tense and expectant.

‘I wonder, Dunlorn, whether you intend to come to court in the spring. Was such a thing among your plans?’

‘I have no plans at all, Sire,’ Robert spread his hands innocently. ‘As you can see, I am here only at Jacob’s request.’

‘Of course.’ Then Selar smiled. It was not a nice smile at all, but the kind that gave you a bad night’s sleep. ‘I should thank you, really, for your absence. All in all, you have been a better servant to the throne away from court than you ever
were present. Not that I’m sorry you came back to Lusara – not at all. But in retrospect, I can hardly think of a more loyal lord. Neither, I might add, can the people.’

He was trying to bait Robert. Even Jacob could see that. Eachern waited on the balls of his feet, hoping that Robert would react. They were all disappointed when Robert smiled easily. ‘I would have no other epitaph, Sire. To be a good and faithful servant of the crown is every man’s wish, is it not?’

‘Is it?’ Selar whipped back. ‘I would have thought a heart full of courage would be a greater wish.’

‘How can a man serve the crown without courage, Sire?’

Selar took a step forward. ‘I don’t know, Dunlorn. Perhaps you can tell me. Or should I call you my Lord of Haddon now that your treacherous uncle is dead? I can’t say I have many men around me who have tried to stand in my way. Even less have I those who have so openly supported me by simple inaction.’ Selar almost spat the words out. He drew up to his full height, raising his voice enough for it to be heard clearly through the entire hall. Ominously, the music came to a ragged halt.

‘Yes,’ Selar laughed, ‘the great name of Douglas has become commensurate with that of coward. You don’t know the number of times I’ve had men say to me, lock him up! Charge him with something – anything. Haddon is a threat, they’ve said over and over again. But you see, I left you alone, didn’t I? I let you wallow in the hole you dug for yourself. I knew you wouldn’t turn on me. I knew you were spent, tired, old and weary. By the gods, even your own uncle had more courage than you. Even when I ordered his execution, I knew you wouldn’t come. And why? Because you’re a coward. That’s why you left in the first place. That’s why you stand here now, without a single word in your own defence. Go on, Haddon. Deny it. Please. It will give Eachern a good laugh, if nothing else.’

Robert was silent, his face was entirely immobile, hands close at his sides.

‘Oh? Nothing to say for yourself? Such a pity – and I was hoping this party would be so much fun. Vaughn will be
disappointed when I tell him you came all this way and still had nothing to say to me. All those years we had together and it’s only now that I realize how little your friendship was worth to me. Come now, this room is breathless waiting for you to cast me down. You, the last hope of Lusara, the one man who has ever stood up to the usurper. Have you really nothing to say to me? Will you not strike me down, kill me on the spot? Free your beloved country?’

‘I cannot, Sire,’ Robert murmured. ‘You will remember I gave you my oath.’

At this, Selar finally dropped the amused façade and stepped so close to Robert there was barely a handspan between them. Eye to eye, his fury almost tangible, Selar said, ‘Well, if that’s all that’s stopping you, Robert, by all means go ahead. Let it not be said that I gave you any excuse to be a coward. You never really needed one, did you? Your surrender at Seluth proved that. What use have I for the oath of a snivelling coward when I have your entire country enslaved at my feet? Your oath served its purpose when you were still the people’s hero, but now, your decaying cowardice and apathetic inaction have dissolved that need. I release you from your vow.’