Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

K ormac took his mother to his receiving chamber, empty this time of day since he wasn't holding an audience. She barely waited for the door to shut before she started in on him.

"Who is this woman? Why is she really here? Don't give me that malarky about her being an envoy."

"She's here because I sent for her. Well not Fionna specifically, she's just who the witch queen sent."

His mother's eyes widened. "Why would you contact her? "

"To help Lomar."

Her lips turned down. "You know there's nothing to be done for him. You should put him out of his misery."

"I won't give up on a cure."

"Even if you find one, you know he can't stay here."

He did know. Anyone else would have been executed for their actions. Cursed or not, murder was punished by death. But he found himself reluctant, especially seeing as how Lomar had only been in that cave because of him.

"I'd rather see him banished than dead."

"Either way, that woman has to go."

"Why?"

"Because people are talking," his mother huffed.

"And what are they saying?" He crossed his arms.

"Well for one, she's a foreigner from a disreputable country whose queen had the nerve to insult you by sending a woman. And then instead of sending her right back, you've given her guest status and a free pass to wander where she will, even your rooms."

He could have groaned because while he'd given that command, he'd meant it more that no one should hamper Fionna, not that he expected her to visit his room. "Since I cannot be by her side every moment of the day, it seemed best to ensure she wouldn't be impeded in her efforts."

"What efforts? Exactly what do you think she can do that our doctors can't?"

"Magic."

His mother blinked.

"Fionna is a witch, as you've probably already guessed."

"Even worse," she muttered. "Our people won't like it."

"If they find out."

"She's from the marshes, of course they'll find out. I'm sure it won't be long before they realize what she is, and then what? How long before they accuse you of being weak?"

"Asking for aid is not weakness."

"It is when it's from a charlatan." His mother sniffed.

"She can do magic. I've seen it."

"Tricks."

"That's what I thought too. But the thing inside Lomar is scared of her."

"Oh?" His mother actually paused. "Why would it be scared of that slip of a girl?"

"I don't know, but it wants her dead. That alone tells me inviting her was the right move. Not to mention, she has access to resources in Acca who will look into the possible source of Lomar's affliction."

"I thought you already knew it was that cave."

"I do, but I don't know what it is."

"Who cares? Block it off. Problem solved." His mother waved a hand as if it were that easy.

"And if it's not that simple? If there is trouble brewing, then I should handle it now before it becomes an even bigger issue down the road."

"How long is the witch staying?"

"As long as it takes."

"Not good enough. The longer she's here, the more people will make assumptions, especially with the two of you spending so much time together already."

"What time?" He snorted. "We ate our morning meal and visited the dungeon."

"You spent time with a woman outside your bedchamber. Think of how it looks."

"I'm aware that the gossip mill will be running wild with this. I'm sure by dinner tomorrow, we'll not only be lovers, but she'll be carrying my baby." He said it sarcastically, but his mother looked appalled.

"The very thought. As if I'd let you beget a bastard on a foreigner."

"She's actually half Sraythian."

"Did she tell you that lie?"

"No, their queen did when she replied with who she'd be sending."

"I still think it's a lie," his mother insisted.

"She has the coloring."

"And magic, according to you, which is not a Sraythian trait."

"Is it not? Or is it because so many were executed, those with power hid?" He couldn't have said why he felt a need to be contrary. His mother only raised some of the same points he'd argued with himself, hence why he'd suggested subterfuge to cover Fionna's visit. However, Fionna preferred honesty and directness. Not something he could fault.

"Witches aren't real. Magic isn't real. And even if it were, we don't want that here."

"How can you say that? There could be benefits."

"I doubt that." She uttered a low, disapproving rebuttal.

"Be that as it may, she's here, she's looking into Lomar's affliction, and you will be nice."

"No, I won't, because I have no intention of encountering the charlatan again." With a mighty sniff, his mother swept out of his receiving chamber to find his father.

When Kormac followed he saw no sign of Fionna.

His father caught him looking and murmured, "The envoy went haring off to the dungeon."

Alone?

Without a word of farewell to his parents, Kormac raced to find her.