Reaylin returned to her room, presumably to pack, and Wesson fell asleep even before her door shut.
The ride back to the ship was tense. With the addition of Celise and Oledia, they required two carriages. Queen Erisial and her consort did not make an appearance that morning, and everyone was glad of that. Oledia was quiet. She looked much like her mother, with darker hair but the same honey-colored eyes. She had dressed in a long frock that would be considered acceptable in most places outside of Lon Lerésh. Celise had not. She was wearing a green bustier, a short, black skirt that barely reached her knees, and gold sandals with straps that wrapped around her ankles. Since Wesson refused to wear the red ribbon she had presented, she wore it for him, together with the green one for her mother’s house. She maintained that she was not yet ready to establish her own house.
It was obvious that Oledia and Celise had somehow developed a sisterly relationship, despite the difference in the way they were treated in their mother’s house. They chatted amicably, although Wesson did not understand a word of it. From their frequent glances his way, he assumed much of it was about him. Oledia was otherwise quiet and preferred to stare out the window in deep contemplation over engaging in conversation. To Wesson, she seemed more like a librarian than an assassin for the Adana’Ro.
Rezkin dismounted and turned to assist his companions from the carriages. Frisha would not take his hand nor would she look at him, and the other women seemed distant as they, too, avoided his gaze.
He and Wesson had an unspoken agreement to never acknowledge the previous night, but Celise wanted everyone to know that her consort had served as witness to the queen’s matrimonial consummation.
Once everyone was free of the carriages and the ship’s crewmen had collected their bags and trunks, Rezkin bade Wesson and Yserria to wait with him and Oledia on the docks. Shezar strode down the gangplank to join them, and Rezkin was grateful for the striker’s professionalism. At least he would wait until information was offered, rather than pester him with needless questions. Reaylin convinced Celise to board the ship with them, and she seemed happy to have found acceptance with the other women. After the parade of soldiers and guards finally departed, those hidden in the shadows emerged into the light.
The blue-eyed secrelé smiled beneath her mask as she approached. Her comrades hurried forward to collect Oledia and her belongings, all of which were quickly ushered aboard a small cutter docked beside Stargazer. Despite the presence of the others, or perhaps because of it, the secrelé spoke in Ferélli.
“You went to great lengths to bring us the daughter of the queen, First King of Lon Lerésh. I am impressed. You spent an entire night with a Leréshi queen and survived.”
Rezkin was having none of the woman’s flirtations that morning. He said, “You have the girl. Give me the sword as agreed.”
The woman tisked. “Testy this morning. Perhaps you are grumpy because you were forced to leave your matrimonial bed so soon.” She lost her playful demeanor. “We do not have the sword. The deal was for us to tell you where it is.”
“And?”
Rezkin snapped.
“King Moldovan has it. It was he who paid us to take it in the first place.”
Rezkin eyed her suspiciously. “Moldovan hates you.”
She shrugged. “Yes, but it does not stop him from using our services when it suits him. If you want the sword, you will have to take it up with him.”
Once the woman had departed, Yserria said, “What did she say? Where is the sword?”
“We go back to Ferélle. We must meet with another monarch.”
Chapter 13
“Please, do not be angry with me more.”
Tieran was trying to pretend to read through the papers on the desk, but he had only managed to shuffle them into disarray. He finally gave up and looked at her.
“Ilanet, you effectively kidnapped our future queen.”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, no! She is with the king. She went to him with will.”
“Willingly,” he said.
“Yes, willingly.”
“Except that it does not appear that she went willingly. She did not walk aboard the ship and bed down in a cozy bunk. Where is she, Ilanet?”
“Um, she is surely with him now. They are weeks gone.”
He slammed his fist onto the desk. “She was wrapped in an illusion that you made and locked in a warded trunk! If you had learned anything about your power, you would know that an illusion spell can have disastrous consequences on a person if not made correctly. But you, a novice just come into her powers, put an illusion on the queen! He might never be able to find her!”
“But Lus—”
“Let us both hope he is as trustworthy as you claim.”
Her doubtful expression was not encouraging.
“Please, Lord Tieran, I do not wish to be placed in my room more.”
“You are remanded to your room until Frisha has returned safely. This is the problem. We have all be treating you like a grown woman, but you are still only a child.”
Having remained silent to this point, Brandt said, “Perhaps you should take that into consideration. She is still a child, and she is Frisha’s friend. She thought she was helping. Frisha is the one to blame.”
Tieran ground his teeth. “Why would she do it?”
Ilanet said, “Because she loves him?”
He glanced at her. Tieran knew that Frisha was a romantic, but she had been having doubts about the union with Rezkin. “That is difficult to accept. I think you know more than you are saying.”
Ilanet bit her lip. “She-she says she does not think he is truth with her.”
He wearily ran a hand down his face. “Truthful.”
“Yes, I am saying truth.”
“No, the word is—never mind. You are saying that she went to spy on him.”
Brandt said, “That does sound like something she would do.”
Tieran nodded and sighed heavily. After glancing at Brandt, he returned his gaze to the princess. “Very well. You may leave your quarters, but you are under strict orders not to use your powers except under the supervision and direction of a mage.”
Ilanet beamed. “Thank you, Lord Tieran. I will be very good. I will make no trouble.”
“You are an illusionist. Your purpose in life is to make trouble.”
The heavy pounding on the door had the signature of Kai. The striker opened the door from the outside to permit Captain Jimson and Healer Jespia.
“You have returned. Please tell me you were successful.”
Jimson saluted and said, “Lord Tieran, we were unable to find him.”
Tieran’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean, you were unable to find him?”
“We waited in his room for over a week. We surveyed all the local establishments and questioned the locals. He has disappeared. Millins and Mage Yerlin stayed behind in case he returns.”
Ilanet said, “You are speaking of Tam? Tam is missing?”
Tieran waved to Brandt. “Take Ilanet—somewhere. Out of here.”
“Wait, no! I wish to know of Tam. Please, what of Tam?”
Brandt pulled her by her elbow through the door, and Kai stepped in before shutting it.
“We will need to put together a real search party,” said the striker.
Tieran looked at Jespia. “What is the prognosis?”
Jespia frowned. “This should never have been done in the first place. By the time we find him, it may already be too late. The human mind was not designed to receive information in this way.”
Kai said, “We had no idea, at the time, that the healer who suggested it was a demon.”
“You knew the dangers,” she said.
“The king wanted Tam to be prepared. Tam wanted to be involved, but he did not have the skills necessary to carry out the tasks without getting himself killed.”
“Well, that is exactly how he is going to end up now.”
“We will find him,” said Tieran. “We have to. Rezkin’s number one priority is his friends, and two have gone missing on my watch.”