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Authors: Fiona McIntosh
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speak for all your loyal subjects in this—do not view it that way. We applaud this move.”
The Queen sighed. “And I am grateful for that,” she said. “But will you thank me when King Celimus starts to stamp his own brutal form of authority across Briavel?”
Liryk had no answer, and in truth, the Queen did not expect one. “What news did you come here to tell me, Commander Liryk?”
“The Legion is preparing for movement east now, your highness. If we are going to placate our neighboring King, we need to do it soon.”
Valentyna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She cast one more fond glance toward the moors and then gave brisk orders.
“Have Crys Donal summoned, please. I will meet with you both in my study. Elspyth too.”
“At once, your highness.”
Valentyna watched him leave, hating what she was about to do.
T he Queen dismissed the servant and poured the two men a glass of wine herself.
“Where is Elspyth?” she inquired of Liryk as he took the goblet from her.
“Your highness, she is nowhere to be found,” he answered, silently happy for the woman’s disappearance. He had agreed with Krell that Elspyth’s influence on the Queen was dangerous. The Morgravian woman had fired their queen’s spirit—made her feel strong and encouraged her to defy Celimus.
Valentyna glanced at Crys, who shrugged. “I haven’t seen her for a couple of days, if truth be known. I thought she was with you, your majesty.”
“Strange,” Valentyna admitted. “Your search has been thorough?” she asked her commander.
“I’ve sent several runners to comb the palace, your highness. She’s certainly not in any of the usual places.”
“Has anyone checked her chambers?” Crys asked. “You had lent her some garments, your highness,” he added. “Are they still there?”
“You think she’s fled?” the Queen exclaimed.
“Did she tell you about a man called Lothryn?” Crys replied, calmly sipping his wine. He suspected that they would not find Elspyth. She had mentioned several times to him that she was no longer needed here. He also suspected his own stay had worn thin, and who could blame the Briavellians with the Legion gathering in force across the border?
The Queen nodded slowly. “Only vaguely.”
“There’s a story attached to him,” he explained. “It involves Koreldy.” Once again it pained him to see the Queen react tothat man’s name. Wyl had given firm instructions that Valentyna was not to learn the truth about Koreldy, but it seemed to Crys unkind not to let her know that the person she obviously loved was not dead as she suspected but roaming the land in a new guise. Crys felt a lurch of despair as he remembered that terrible night at Felrawthy. The day after had been worse, but he knew he must not think on that now. Bury your hurts, his mother used to say. Bring them out only when you’re alone and strong enough to look at them. And so he had somehow buried the despair of losing his family so cruelly and was trying not to dwell on their deaths.
“Crys?”
He was embarrassed to realize both the Queen and Liryk were watching him.
“I—I’m sorry. Lost myself there,” he said, not wanting to say more.
“You were telling us about Elspyth and Lothryn,” Valentyna prompted, deliberately avoiding mentioning Koreldy by name.
“That’s right,” Crys continued. “The Mountain Dweller Lothryn saved the lives of Elspyth and Koreldy in the Razors. No one knows if he survived Cailech’s wrath at his betrayal. Elspyth is determined to learn his fate.”
Neither of them referred to their knowledge that Elspyth was in love with Lothryn. “And you think she’s gone back?” Valentyna suggested.
“I think she’s capable of doing something that bullheaded, yes,” he said, and smiled gently to reassure the Queen that he admired Elspyth for her courage.
“Into the Razors?” Liryk queried. “Alone?”
“I don’t know, sir. She’s a passionate girl.
The Queen sighed. “And I am grateful for that,” she said. “But will you thank me when King Celimus starts to stamp his own brutal form of authority across Briavel?”
Liryk had no answer, and in truth, the Queen did not expect one. “What news did you come here to tell me, Commander Liryk?”
“The Legion is preparing for movement east now, your highness. If we are going to placate our neighboring King, we need to do it soon.”
Valentyna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She cast one more fond glance toward the moors and then gave brisk orders.
“Have Crys Donal summoned, please. I will meet with you both in my study. Elspyth too.”
“At once, your highness.”
Valentyna watched him leave, hating what she was about to do.
T he Queen dismissed the servant and poured the two men a glass of wine herself.
“Where is Elspyth?” she inquired of Liryk as he took the goblet from her.
“Your highness, she is nowhere to be found,” he answered, silently happy for the woman’s disappearance. He had agreed with Krell that Elspyth’s influence on the Queen was dangerous. The Morgravian woman had fired their queen’s spirit—made her feel strong and encouraged her to defy Celimus.
Valentyna glanced at Crys, who shrugged. “I haven’t seen her for a couple of days, if truth be known. I thought she was with you, your majesty.”
“Strange,” Valentyna admitted. “Your search has been thorough?” she asked her commander.
“I’ve sent several runners to comb the palace, your highness. She’s certainly not in any of the usual places.”
“Has anyone checked her chambers?” Crys asked. “You had lent her some garments, your highness,” he added. “Are they still there?”
“You think she’s fled?” the Queen exclaimed.
“Did she tell you about a man called Lothryn?” Crys replied, calmly sipping his wine. He suspected that they would not find Elspyth. She had mentioned several times to him that she was no longer needed here. He also suspected his own stay had worn thin, and who could blame the Briavellians with the Legion gathering in force across the border?
The Queen nodded slowly. “Only vaguely.”
“There’s a story attached to him,” he explained. “It involves Koreldy.” Once again it pained him to see the Queen react tothat man’s name. Wyl had given firm instructions that Valentyna was not to learn the truth about Koreldy, but it seemed to Crys unkind not to let her know that the person she obviously loved was not dead as she suspected but roaming the land in a new guise. Crys felt a lurch of despair as he remembered that terrible night at Felrawthy. The day after had been worse, but he knew he must not think on that now. Bury your hurts, his mother used to say. Bring them out only when you’re alone and strong enough to look at them. And so he had somehow buried the despair of losing his family so cruelly and was trying not to dwell on their deaths.
“Crys?”
He was embarrassed to realize both the Queen and Liryk were watching him.
“I—I’m sorry. Lost myself there,” he said, not wanting to say more.
“You were telling us about Elspyth and Lothryn,” Valentyna prompted, deliberately avoiding mentioning Koreldy by name.
“That’s right,” Crys continued. “The Mountain Dweller Lothryn saved the lives of Elspyth and Koreldy in the Razors. No one knows if he survived Cailech’s wrath at his betrayal. Elspyth is determined to learn his fate.”
Neither of them referred to their knowledge that Elspyth was in love with Lothryn. “And you think she’s gone back?” Valentyna suggested.
“I think she’s capable of doing something that bullheaded, yes,” he said, and smiled gently to reassure the Queen that he admired Elspyth for her courage.
“Into the Razors?” Liryk queried. “Alone?”
“I don’t know, sir. She’s a passionate girl.
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