Well of the Damned

Chapter 10





Gavin sat alone in the downstairs library with his head in his hands, wrestling with his thoughts. In the two hundred years since the palace had been abandoned, the demon Ritol had destroyed the furniture and artwork and most of the books, but Feanna and his sister-in-law Liera had painstakingly arranged to have this room restored. They’d followed Gavin’s description of the way it had been when he’d met king Arek face to face during his first back-traveling excursion and had done an extraordinary job, though the style of furniture was updated and the colors were slightly brighter. This had easily become his favorite room in the palace.

His thoughts returned again to the brown-eyed girl, Keturah Kinshield. He couldn’t get her face out of his head. Why, if Rogan was this girl’s father, would he have named Gavin? It didn’t make sense. Had he been trying to protect himself or his family?

He sensed Feanna’s approach and turned to watch her appreciatively as she entered the room and closed the door. Her curvaceous figure was accentuated by the buttery yellow dress, scooped just low enough in front to draw his eye. The lace-accented gown brought out the golden hue in her hair flowing over her shoulders in gentle curls. Though she wore dresses fancier and more befitting a queen than the simple ones she’d owned when they first met, she was still the demure and humble yet determined woman he fell in love with. He rose and placed a kiss on her lips and, inspired by their softness, another.

“Now that you’ve chosen Jophet as Supreme Councillor of the Militia,” she said, taking a seat across from his desk, “I want you to name Lilalian as my champion.”

He raised his brow in surprise as he sat beside her. “Why?”

“She was so heartbroken over not being chosen, and she’s a good leader and battler. I don’t want her to leave us.”

“Feeling sorry for someone ain’t a good reason for giving them an important job. I was planning to name Tennara.”

She scowled. “But I prefer Lila.”

“Tennara’s the better choice, but I’ll take more time to consider. I didn’t expect you home so early today,” he said. “How was your visit to the orphanage?”

He saw something in her gray eyes that he had never seen before. It worried him, and he took her hand and asked what was the matter. Her eyes welled with tears, and she bowed her head before sobs overtook her. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said, kneeling before her and drawing her into his arms. “It’ll be awright.” He held her for several long minutes while she cried, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Finally, when she regained control, she pulled back and dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief she’d made a part of her wardrobe.

“It was awful, Gavin. Some of those children were sleeping with mice in their pallets, and probably rats too, and bugs. The kitchen…” A strong shudder shook her shoulders. “There were roaches everywhere, running across the floor, climbing on the tables and over the food. It was disgusting.”

“What was their excuse?”

She let out a growl of frustration and anger. “His excuse was arrogance and denial. He had the children hidden away somewhere, but I saw some of them, and they looked underfed. There was a chair, Gavin. He tied children into the chair when they misbehaved, and he kept a variety of switches in the same wardrobe where he kept their toys.”

“So what’d you tell him? How’s he going to fix it?” He took his seat again but held onto her hands.

A smile brightened her face. “You’d have been proud of me. I threatened to shut the place down and move the children. I would have – I was ready to proceed – but he convinced me to let him fix things.” She outlined her agreement with the orphanage overseer, and Gavin nodded his agreement as she spoke.

He was proud of her. After hearing her express doubts almost constantly about her ability to fulfill the role of queen, it lifted his spirits to see her confidence building. She made a wonderful queen, but he couldn’t convince her of that. She needed to learn it herself, and it appeared she was on her way.

Excitement quickened her tongue as she said, “I’d like to also provide books and hire people to teach the children to read. It’s a skill that can come in handy when they’re older. Aside from learning to read and count, I think they ought to be taught a trade – carpentry or tailoring or cobbling or cooking – something they can use when they’re old enough to leave the orphanage. Something their parents might’ve taught them had they not been taken so early.”

“That’s a good idea.” He often wished he’d spent more time learning to read, as Edan’s father, the Lordover Lalorian, had urged. “Maybe we can give tradesmen some kind o’payment to take these children under their wing.”

“Oh, Gavin! That would be wonderful, but won’t Edan object to the expenditure?”

“When people are happy, they’re productive, and when every citizen is productive, the whole country’ll thrive. I don’t think he agrees, but we won’t know unless we try it.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.” Her enthusiasm didn’t stop there. “I want to go to Ambryce and visit the orphanage there. If it’s as wonderful as I’ve heard, it could be a model for the orphanage in Tern and elsewhere.”

“Sure, once the rain stops,” Gavin said. At her scowl, he explained, “The rain makes travel dangerous. There’s no telling when the sky’ll clear.” Especially if the rain was magically caused, as the weather scientists believed.

“The children’s welfare can’t wait until it’s convenient for me. They need my help now, rain or not.”

“I didn’t say wait until it’s convenient. I said wait until it’s safe. You’re the queen. I won’t let you take unnecessary risks.”

“It’s not a risk if there’s no danger. The Lordover Keyes traveled all this way without incident, and he’s an old man. He told me the roads were passable. I’ll have Lila and Tennara with me, plus your choice of guards and my usual attendants. They won’t let anything happen to me.”

He grunted in response, unappreciative of the skill with which she countered his argument.

She smoothed his hair with a calming, loving hand. “I would ask you to come with me, but you have other pressing concerns. I can do this. You believe in me, don’t you?”

He felt peaceful, less concerned about her proposed journey than he had a moment earlier, and wondered whether she was using her empathic skill to influence him. Unlike others with a gift of empathy, she could also push her own feelings into her target. It was how they had all survived the demon Ritol’s attack. No, she wouldn’t do that. She’s not a devious woman. He stood, just in case, and moved out of her reach. “O’course I do. That’s not a fair question. There’s no reason for you to travel now. The trip’ll be miserable even if the road is good. You won’t be able to stop as often to stretch.”

She cocked her head. “Have you forgotten I was on my own, caring for four children by myself, before I met you? I’m no stranger to discomfort. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re strong. You’re tough. I know that. I just don’t want you traveling in the rain.”

She stood stiffly and glared up into his eyes. “You aren’t my father, Gavin Kinshield. You can’t control me as if you were.”

“I’m not—” He realized he’d started to holler and lowered his voice. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m trying to ensure your safety.”

Feanna glared at him before storming out.

“Feanna, don’t...” He sighed at the door as it swung shut behind her. “...leave.”