Chapter 5

R o faced her audience. "You were all there with me in the library early this morning. You all saw what happened. Heard Queen Anyka's accusations. I never intended for that to be the outcome. My plans for taking possession of Lady Cynzia's diary were two-fold. One, that a solution might be found to remove the curse that lies over Malveaux. Two, I also thought it best, to be perfectly honest with all of you, that the book not fall into Queen Anyka's hands."

That got her a lot of nods in response.

"I'm not saying Queen Anyka can't be trusted, but… I certainly don't know her. None of us do. What I do know is Lady Cynzia's historical actions weren't aimed at creating peace. Animosity already exists between our two realms. I want to change that. To bring peace to our kingdoms. For things to go back to how they once were. I don't know if that's still achievable."

The Professor of Medicine, Ina Newman, spoke up. "I pray it is."

Ro nodded. "As do I."

Professor Cloudtree raised his hand. "Your majesty, if I may?"

"Go ahead."

He cleared his throat softly and looked around the room. "History has shown us that the past often repeats itself. It is widely believed that Queen Anyka's mother was responsible for the poisoning of Queen Kessa and her children, which, as we all know, is what drove King Reedly mad with grief. If Queen Anyka's mother could murder a rival queen and her children, why would we not believe Queen Anyka could do the same?"

She nodded. She wholeheartedly agreed.

He looked at Ro. "Anyone who thinks you weren't justified in your actions is wrong. You did what was best for Summerton. No one should fault you for that."

"Thank you, Professor Cloudtree." Ro gazed at those before her, studying faces. She believed them all to be loyal to her, but if any weren't… "Is there anyone who disagrees with what I did? If so, please speak up. Now is the time."

No one said a thing, but there was a lot of looking around to see if someone would. She hoped that wouldn't be the case. She trusted these people. She waited two more seconds, then spoke. "All right, it seems we are all in agreement that what was done was in the best interests of peace."

More nods. Almost all of those around her. Uldamar seemed lost in thought.

Ro took a breath. "We must determine how to move forward. Queen Anyka believes the book belongs to her. How do we appease her?"

"Must we?" Aunt Violet asked. "Why can't you just tell her that you believe it's in the best interests of both kingdoms if the book stays in the vaults? For the sake of both our kingdoms?"

"I would if I thought that would work." Ro shook her head. "I fear Anyka would only argue that it would be better kept in the Grym vaults, as it's Grym property, a case she could easily make."

Uldamar roughly cleared his throat and stood. "Let me be your excuse, my lady. Tell her your Professor of Magic has detected hazardous levels of dark magic permeating the book and refuses to part with it until it has been cleansed of danger."

Ro nodded. "Am I correct in assuming that's not a lie? You have found dark magic permeating the book?"

"I have yet to open the book and examine it closely, as it's been sent to the Summerton vaults, but it reeked of darkness. A thorough search of it will require some precautions."

The book hadn't been sent to the vaults. Uldamar had merely performed a little trick and made the book disappear, telling everyone that's where it had disappeared to. He'd confessed to Ro he'd done that so Anyka would have no reason to continue searching for it.

"Then," Ro said. "That's what will be done. Thank you, Professor Uldamar." She gestured at Posey. "We'll need to draft a letter."

Posey got to her feet. "I only brought a pen and notebook. I'll go get some letterhead." She slipped out.

Ro spoke to the group again. "If any of you is questioned by a member of the Malveaux court, or even just a citizen of that kingdom, you let them know that the book was determined to be unsafe. If they press you for more information, you direct them to speak with me."

With a slight sneer, Professor Larksford asked, "Will you actually talk to them?"

"Of course I will. If they're asking seriously and seem concerned. The citizens are very important to me," Ro answered.

"As you should know," Gabriel growled. "The queen has made that clear from the beginning."

Gabriel's response to Larksford's disrespect wasn't surprising. She maintained her cool. "Any other questions?" There were none, so she wrapped things up. "Thank you all for coming. I hope you're able to still enjoy your time here. I'll have a letter sent to Queen Anyka shortly that will endeavor to explain what's going on with the book and, hopefully, smooth things over. I would request that you all plan to take lunch in the dining hall. Since we didn't show for breakfast, I feel that's important. You're free to go."

A loud thump at the door stopped them from going anywhere. Some shouting could be heard as well.

A moment later, the doors opened and one of the guards stationed in the hall dragged a boy in. He had a fur pelt secured around his neck like a cape and leafy twigs stuck in his cap.

Ro's brows bent. "Kieran. What are you doing here?"

He pulled his cap off and bowed, nearly unbalancing himself, since the guard had a grip on his arm. "I need to speak with you, my lady."

"Let him go," Ro told the guard. He did as she asked. "What is this all about, Kieran?"

He rubbed his forearm where the guard had held him and looked around, holding his cap in his hand. "In private, my lady, if you please."

"Everyone was just leaving anyway." Ro nodded at the group. "Uldamar, please stay for a little longer."

He kept his seat as everyone else filed out, the guard included. Soon, Ro was left with Gabriel, Uldamar, JT and his guard, Raphaela, Violet and her guard, Vincent, and Posey, who'd come back in with the letterhead as the others was leaving.

"These people are all friends, Kieran. You can tell me whatever it is you need to in front of them."

He didn't look convinced, his eyes on Uldamar. "Are you certain, my lady? It's very important."

"I'm positive." She went to the couch and patted the cushion next to her. "Come sit by me. Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

His gaze wandered to the table where the breakfast food remained. "That spiced cocoa and one of those jam buns might be all right."

Gabriel, with a lopsided smile on his face, held his hand up. "I'll get it."

He soon presented Kieran with a cup of cocoa and a plate with two jam buns. Kieran, seated on the couch beside Ro, took a bite of one of the buns. "Thank you, my lady."

"You're welcome. Now, what's so important?"

Kieran wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Queen Anyka and her valet and that big troll bodyguard of hers were at the stables."

"Oh?" So far, Ro doubted this was as important as Kieran thought it was, but the boy's heart was in the right place. He probably wanted to prove himself useful to her in order to show how innocent he really was.

Kieran nodded. "They went out for a ride, but I'd seen the valet there before and he'd gone into the woods without a horse, but he didn't stay long. I thought…" His little shoulders pulled up in a shrug. "Well, truth, my lady, I didn't know what he was about. So when the three of them went out on horses, I followed them."

Ro blinked. "You did?" That sounded like a good way for him to get into trouble. "I don't think you should take such chances, Keiran."

He leaned in, voice lowering slightly. "They met up with a rough man, my lady, Grym, by his looks. I heard them talking."

Gabriel sat on the other side of Ro. "What kind of rough man?"

Kieran shook his head. "I don't know, really. The sort that looks like trouble. He had a sword and lots of daggers. And he was all in leather."

Ro glanced at Gabriel. "Sounds like you."

He cut his eyes at her but said nothing.

"Also," Kieran added. "He had a crossbow and a quiver of bolts for it. He was on a warhorse."

Still sounded like Gabriel but Ro kept that to herself. "You said you heard them talking. What did they say?"

Kieran took a big drink of cocoa, leaving him with a chocolatey moustache. "Queen Anyka asked him if he understood what he was supposed to do and he said to bring back Lady Cynzia, and then she tossed him a bag of coins, I think. It sounded like coins. And she promised him more when he returned."

Ro's stomach twisted. "You're sure you heard the name Lady Cynzia?"

"I did, your highness. I swear it."

"You heard Queen Anyka say that?" Gabriel asked.

"No, sir, the man on the horse. They said his name but there was a fly buzzing in my ear, and I didn't catch it."

Gabriel took a breath. "She hired a tracker. A mercenary."

Keiran nodded. "That'd be my guess, too, sir."

Ro could guess what a tracker did based on the name alone, but she was sure Gabriel would tell her more. "This just happened?"

"Yes, my lady. I ran straight here when they all took off so I could tell you." He stared at his jam buns, but not before Ro caught the look of worry in his gaze. "I wanted you to know you could trust me."

"I know I can trust you, Kieran." She touched his cheek so that he'd look at her again. "We're friends, aren't we?"

He smiled and nodded quickly. "Yes, my lady."

"Good boy. You can go once you've finished up your food."

That didn't take him long. The jam buns disappeared in a matter of three or four big bites, washed down with what was left of the cocoa. Kieran got to his feet, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Thank you, my lady."

"You're welcome," Ro said.

Gabriel handed him a silver coin. "You hear anything else of interest, you come let us know, but don't get yourself into trouble."

"No, sir." He took the coin and tucked it in his pocket. "Thank you, sir. I'd better get back before they miss me." He left.

Ro exhaled, her head spinning. "Sounds to me like Anyka not only believes Lady Cynzia is alive but like she knows where she might be."

"The cloud kingdom," Uldamar said. "That's where I'd go if I were trying to escape the Grym. Or the Radiant, for that matter. The Wyvern have no allegiance to the fae. Or anyone. They seem to have no desire for any alliances, either, preferring to keep to themselves. But they do revere magic and power. It's quite possible she's found a home with them."

Ro took that in, but there was something else she needed to know before she responded. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about, Uldamar? Something about Lady Cynzia's book?"

He shook his head. "No, the arrow. The last person who touched it had great anger in them and a desire to impress. I cannot explain fully what I was able to feel from that arrow, but it led me to believe that it had not come from the hand of a child."

Gabriel twisted to see the old wizard better. "So that arrow did not come from Kieran's bow?"

"I do not believe it did."

JT scowled. "That means someone really did take a shot at my mother. Most likely using Kieran's practice session as cover."

Uldamar, eyes dark with anger, nodded. "I'm afraid it does."

Violet let out a little gasp and Posey's hand went to her throat.

Gabriel shook his head. "That is unacceptable." He looked at Ro. "Please reconsider returning to Castle Clarion. You're much safer there."

"No." She looked at all of them. "I agree that I'd probably be safer there, but what I do next could impact the kingdom for years to come. I am not going to run away scared."

"Mom." JT got to his feet. "Anyka is trying to kill you."

"I don't think she is. Killing me is not going to get her the book. If she was smart, she'd try to befriend me. Get the book from me that way."

"Mom." JT rolled his eyes. "Please. We can't lose you."

"You're not going to. Gabriel is with me whenever I'm not in this apartment." She paused, her mind working on all she'd just heard. "I do think it's time for a new tactic, however."

JT sat back down. "What?"

She looked from Gabriel to Uldamar. "This cloud kingdom. The Wyvern. Why don't they have an alliance with any of the fae?"

Uldamar answered. "They have no alliance with anyone. They've always kept to themselves. I suppose they don't believe there's a need for an alliance."

"Maybe I can convince them otherwise."

Gabriel's forehead furrowed. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I want to talk to them."

He shook his head. "They live up in the mountains. Beyond fae lands."

"Which is where Anyka's tracker is probably headed, right?"

Gabriel nodded. "If what Kieran said is true, then yes."

"So we need to get there first."

Gabriel stared at her. "You can't be serious."

"I'm very serious. Not only might we get to Cynzia before Anyka, but this trip will get me away from Willow Hall. Out of danger."

"And into a different kind of danger." He frowned. "Besides the fact that you going on a mission like that is a terrible idea, how on earth do you think we could get there before him?"

Ro looked at Uldamar. "There must be something you can do. A little spell of confusion or something like that."

Uldamar's eyes narrowed. "I could manage something of that sort."

"No," Gabriel said. "As your head of security, I want to state respectfully that this is an awful idea, your highness."

"Noted." Ro got to her feet. "We should leave immediately. I can probably be ready in twenty minutes or so, if Helana and Luena can help me pack a few essentials. JT, you'll be representing the throne while I'm gone, so be on your best behavior."

"Mom." He stood. "You aren't seriously doing this."

She looked at him. "If the Wyvern don't think they need an alliance, it might be because they've never been asked personally. I want these people on our side. I think we're going to need them. When I was a curator at the museum, the best way to get someone to say yes to me was to go see them in person."

"But you're the queen." He spread his hands like he didn't get it.

"Which is why I have to go." She pointed at Uldamar. "I want you to go with us. You said they respect magic; you could be very important. What kind of gift would they like? We should take a gift." She shook her head. She still needed to draft the letter to Anyka. "There is so much to do."