“I apologize if I goaded you. I was wondering if it would be possible to see my family.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Soon. If Nordain couldn’t trust you to stay put, why should I?”
“I would never lie to you, Laisha.”
A wry smile was her only reply.
“Have you found the records yet?”
“Found them, yes. Read them all, no. Five hundred years ago, roughly, or around seventy Silvan years. It is a lot of ground to cover. To be honest, my eyes were starting to hurt and I needed a little walk to refresh myself. I thought you might enjoy one too.”
He stopped and stared at her. “You are reading the records yourself?”
“Why do you look so surprised? I’ve been reading them since I was Lucyanna’s age. I know more about Sol-don-Orai now than I’ve ever cared to know. What a horrible time. I can see why there was so much fear. The Emperor had flying cities that plundered nations and destroyed the weather for years. I also know more about the Everoot now, though I confess I had thought it was all destroyed because of the drought. I hope to find the references you suggested regarding the Silverkin later today or tomorrow.”
“But surely you have others who…”
She stopped and gave him a level look. “There are some things one does not delegate. That is the very reason I have a chancellor. He is attending to my daily functions right now so that I may have time to pursue this without raising suspicions. I do not even trust the Warders to read through the vaults. The information is too precious.”
Thealos clasped his hands behind his back. “I underestimated you. I think our whole kingdom has.”
“Oh? I must spend my days designing new gowns or painting my face with vax and rouge? I have thousands of chambermaids and a host of scribes trailing after me night and day while I compose poetry. I know nothing because I never leave Avisahn?” A smile quirked on her mouth, as if to say—isn’t that what you thought of me too?
He shook his head. “I’ve always admired you, Laisha. But I cannot say I’ve ever been close enough to know you. The midsummer ball once a year? A token dance because of my family name? You always took the time to insist on it. But I was one of a hundred.”
She shrugged. “No one knows me save Abtalion and my sister. Don’t feel left out.”
“What about your father?”
The look she gave him was sad. She shook her head.
“Your Correl was alive during the time of Sol-don-Orai, Laisha. He might remember…”
“You don’t understand. My Correl hasn’t known anyone for years. He lost his son during the Purge Wars. He lost Sorrel after Lucyanna was born. There are uncles and aunts and cousins—more than I could ever want. But he stopped ruling Avisahn long ago.”
Thealos felt a sharpness inside him. She had shouldered the burden of the kingdom before even coming of age. No wonder calling her na?ve had stung her so much. The pressure of it—he could not even imagine what she had gone through.
“Do you need help reading the records? I’m not really doing anything right now.”
“Well, that will change. That’s another reason I asked to see you. Your trial begins tomorrow morning.”
Thealos’ heart lurched. “What?”
“It’s what I meant earlier about the illusion of this tranquility. That peace was only possible behind a layer of stone. I come here every day because I need that moment to gather my breath, to summon my wits, to prepare for the troubles awaiting me. You are one of those troubles. Elder Nordain has charged you with treason.” She looked him right in the eye. “It’s time to face his charges.”
Chapter VI
The Iron Point Road cut through the denseness of the Shadows Wood. It was worn over with wagon ruts and riddled with patches of witchthorn. Exeres found it interesting how the hulking cedar trees muted the sunlight. The road itself was not in a straight line, leading him to wonder what waited around the furthest bend ahead as he kept a strong pace. Sounds echoed from strange places, coming to him from all around. The tops of the cedars gently undulated, causing a shushing murmur throughout the woods. Dried out branches clacked and clattered as they crashed down to the ground. Insects chirped and ticked. A forest always carried its own set of rich smells. But the dark tangle of the Shadows Wood smelled bitter compared to the Isherwood.