Chapter 34

A nyka shoved Ishmyel away. "Get your hands off me."

He lifted his hands, holding them up in the air. "Your highness, my lady niece, you are leading us to war . I know you want Lady Cynzia's book but at what cost? Our people will not support this."

"The people will support what I tell them to. You think they will turn against me? They wouldn't dare." She whipped around to look at her valet. "And you. If you ever lay a hand on me again, I will have Trog tear your heart out."

Wyett bowed his head, but not before she caught a flash of anger in his eyes. Let him be angry. He knew better than to touch her like that. How dare he help Ishmyel restrain her. She ought to have the two of them executed, but that would leave her with almost no one.

Maybe it didn't matter. Maybe she was better off alone. She would still have Nazyr. And Hawke. She hoped.

She put her hand to her head. It ached with the weight of so much turmoil. With the irritation induced by the superior attitude of that ludicrous woman, Sparrow. She was a fake. A counterfeit queen. What did that stupid sword know? "I hate her," Anyka muttered.

"What did you say?" Ishmyel asked.

"That we should go home. I am tired of this place, tired of these people, and tired of being surrounded by these sycophantic, idiotic, overly optimistic Radiant. They're poisoning my daughter, and they cannot see that a liar sits on their throne. I am done with all of them and all of this."

"Your highness?" Wyett said softly.

"What?"

"The troll delegation is due to arrive shortly."

Anyka closed her eyes. "Send a messenger to intercept them and direct them to Malveaux. Send two. Just get it done."

"Yes, your highness. Am I dismissed?"

She waved him off and sighed, putting her hands on her hips. She was so tired. "Ishmyel, find Beatryce, tell her she needs to have her lady's maid pack her things."

Ishmyel nodded. "She won't like it."

"I know. I'll deal with her. I'm going to my quarters to tell my lady's maid to pack, then I wish to see Hawke." If he wasn't able to travel, she wasn't sure what she'd do. She could not stay here. "Nazyr, walk with me."

"Yes, my lady." He joined her and together they left the Blue Hall, Trog a few paces behind.

She had to slow her steps so Nazyr could keep up with her, but that was fine. He'd been loyal. He deserved that much. Besides that, she needed his counsel. "Am I being hasty in heading home?"

"No, my lady. It's the right move."

She glanced at him. He was still so pale. "You will travel in my carriage."

"That is very gracious of you. Thank you."

"Grylan was useful in restoring you. He seems decently gifted."

"He is. Perhaps more than I realized. I am grateful to him. And you, for bringing him here to help me."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you, Nazyr. You are a good man, talented, loyal. I will need you by my side in the coming days."

"And I will be there."

"I expect I will need Grylan, too. You must understand that including him is no slight to you. I fear the Radiant are more powerful than we realized."

Nazyr nodded solemnly. "I believe you may be right. Darkstone opened the book."

She took a deep breath. "He did. I am, regrettably, impressed. He showed no signs of ill-effect, either."

"No, he didn't. Even his eyes looked calm. Do you think he could be lying?"

She reluctantly shook her head. "It didn't seem like information they meant to share. I am inclined to believe it."

With a sigh, he nodded. "So am I."

They reached the portal, entering and making room for Trog to step in, as well. Nazyr dialed the gems, leaning heavily on his stick.

The air shifted, then the doors opened again. They stepped out and went toward the royal apartment.

"I want you to come in for a few moments. I'd like to speak to you and Grylan together."

"Of course, my lady."

"I'll send a footman to help you pack. You needn't worry about that."

"Very kind of you."

At the entrance, she gestured to the guard. "You. Fetch Vice-Minister Grylan Evenshade, then return to your post."

He nodded and went to do as she'd bid.

They settled in the sitting room. Grylan appeared shortly after.

"Sit."

"Yes, my lady." He went to the couch.

"Tensions between Malveaux and Summerton can no longer be ignored. Queen Sparrow has made it clear she no longer desires peace. Not only does she refuse to return Lady Cynzia's grimoire to its rightful home, she now says she plans to destroy it."

Grylan grimaced. "It's not her property. It's a historical document of considerable significance to Malveaux. The very idea…"

"I know ," Anyka said. "It's repugnant and shows that upstart has no respect for Malveaux, the Grym, or our history." She frowned. "It pains me to say this, but we are effectively at war with Summerton."

Grylan swallowed and looked at Nazyr.

He nodded. "We are. The Summerton queen is power-hungry. She lets her ego rule her and she has seduced the men who serve her. They are blinded to the truth."

"We are leaving Willow Hall tomorrow and heading home," Anyka said. "I know you both need to prepare for that return, but I want you to be thinking intently on what magic can be used against her and to protect me. And to protect the kingdom, of course. I fear there are dark days ahead of us. Sparrow will use everything in her power to destroy Malveaux. That cannot happen."

Grylan puffed out his chest. "Nor will it, my lady." He nodded at Nazyr. "We will not let it."

"No," Nazyr said. "We will find ways to help you, your highness, and protect our kingdom."

Anyka felt some of the tension in her body lighten. "That is what I wanted to hear. You may both go."

Grylan got to his feet. "Thank you, my lady. It's an honor to serve."

Nazyr was slower getting up. "If it's not an imposition, I would like to visit Hawke myself. Would it be acceptable if I went with you?"

"That would be fine." She was glad of it, actually. She would never admit it, but after the disastrous meeting with Sparrow, Anyka didn't want to be alone.

Clary greeted them at the door of Hawke's quarters. With Nazyr on his feet again, she'd come to help with her half-brother. She curtseyed. "Your highness, come in, please."

"How is he?" Anyka was pleased to see his rooms were clean and bright, the windows open enough to keep the air from stagnating.

"I think a little better. I was able to get some broth in him last night."

"He was awake?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Not really. Enough that he let me feed him, but not enough to speak or do much more than make small sounds."

Anyka went through to the bedroom. Hawke looked comfortable, though pale. "Hawke?"

There was no response. She hadn't expected one. She moved closer and sat on the edge of the bed, taking his hand. It was warm and rough, the hand of a warrior. A man who'd been willing to do whatever she bade him.

Right now, all she needed was him whole, just as she'd needed Nazyr.

She looked up at the wizard. "Is there anything you can do for him?"

"I can try."

"Will it weaken you to use your magic?"

"Perhaps, but it won't be much. I'll be fine."

"Then do what you can for him. Please."

"I will." He glanced at Hawke's hand in hers. "Respectfully, my lady, you should not touch him until I'm done."

With a quick nod, she let go of Hawke and stood.

Nazyr sat on the other side of the bed and placed his hand over the bandages on Hawke's chest. He muttered a few words, closed his eyes, and tiny blue-green sparks of light traveled down his arm and disappeared into Hawke's body.

Nazyr removed his hand, and Hawke took a deep breath, although his eyes didn't open.

Anyka gasped. "Did you heal him?"

"No, my lady. Just gave him some extra energy and put him, temporarily, into a deeper, more restorative sleep to speed his healing. When he wakes tomorrow, he should be well enough to travel." Nazyr raised his brows. "I assumed that was what you wanted."

"You assumed correctly." She smiled and meant it. "Thank you. I will not forget this."

Nazyr slumped. "I am happy to help."

"You're tired."

"I will rest soon enough."

"Come. I will see you to your quarters." As he got up, Anyka turned to look for Hawke's half-sister. Where had the girl gone? "Clary?"

She came in from the sitting room. "Yes, my lady?"

"Pack your things and Hawke's. We return to Dearth tomorrow."

Her eyes widened slightly. "I will make sure he's ready."

"Watch him carefully. If there is any change in him for the worse, fetch Dr. Lockhart immediately. If there is any change for the better, see if you can get him to eat. He will need his strength."

Clary nodded. "Yes, my lady."

Anyka walked Nazyr to his door. "I'll send a footman shortly to help you pack. Do you need anything to eat or drink?"

He chuckled softly. "My queen, your attentiveness to me is touching, but you must have more important things to do."

"I need you for what is coming, Nazyr."

"You will have me. I swear it. I will be better tomorrow than I am today."

"See that you are." She gave him a soft smile. Maybe she was fussing over him too much, but she'd spoken the truth when she said she needed him.

"Are you going down to dinner?"

"No. As you said, I have more important things to do. I will see you in the morning."

"Good night then."

"Good night." She went back to her quarters and rang for a footman. When he arrived, she asked for dinner to be sent up and for another footman to see to Nazyr's packing.

As the footman left, Ishmyel returned, the scowl on his face warning that he had bad news.

"What is it?" Anyka asked.

"Word is already spreading that Nazyr is the father of Prince James and it didn't come from us. Queen Sparrow must be behind it." He sighed heavily. "Also, Princess Beatryce does not want to return to Dearth."

Anyka rolled her eyes in exhaustion at all of it. "I do not care what she wants. We leave tomorrow. As for the other…I'm not sure I care about that, either."

Ishmyel shifted from one foot to the other. "My lady niece, Beatryce refuses ."

Anyka made a face. "She cannot refuse. I am both her mother and her queen."

"And I am merely a messenger." He held his hands out. "She said she will leave when she wants to and not a day before."

Anyka opened her mouth to yell, then closed it. Yelling at Ishmyel would do nothing. Neither would yelling at Beatryce. She had become a stubborn, willful young woman. There were other ways to deal with that. Anyka shrugged. "Fine."

Ishmyel's eyes rounded. "Fine?"

Anyka nodded. "She can stay. But tell her lady's maid to pack Beatryce's things. All of it. Gowns, jewelry, slippers, everything. Beatryce can stay, but all the things that I have provided for her are going home to Castle Hayze."