Fate's Ransom(The First Argentines #4)

“Perhaps. It would be costly. But I cannot bring myself to rebel. Every part of who I am would be compromised. I’m afraid . . . I’m afraid of who I would become.” He stared at her pleadingly, feeling the darkness inside him clamoring to escape.

Claire put her hands on his cheeks. “If anything were to happen to our sons, I would never forgive myself.”

“There is more at stake here than just our sons,” Ransom said emphatically, with all the sincerity he could muster. “The Fountain has whispered to me that Jon-Landon’s son will be our king. I don’t know how long it will be before that happens, but I’ve been told to ensure that it does happen.”

She studied him for a moment, her eyes widening with surprise and then a hint of skepticism. Although he’d told her before that the Fountain had spoken to him, he’d never told her what had been said. She didn’t believe in the Fountain, and he knew his words were unlikely to sway her. And yet holding the truth back would have felt wrong. She needed to understand the stakes.

Finally, she said, “I believe that you heard a message, Ransom. But how do you know it was truly from the Fountain? Could not the Aos Sí have given you this message? Might they not want all the kingdoms destroyed?” She paused. “Are you quite certain you didn’t see Gervase in a dream?”

He sighed. “I don’t believe in the Aos Sí, Claire. What I’ve seen . . . felt . . . witnessed with my own eyes tells me the Fountain is the source of these communications. I’ve seen the shade of King Gervase, and he spoke to me of the Deep Fathoms. I was awake when I saw him, Claire, as awake as I am now. I cannot deny what happened, or the truths that were shared with me. I don’t expect you to believe as I do. But at least I want you to understand why I feel we must endure this.”

Claire closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them again. He couldn’t tell if she believed in his words or not, but she didn’t argue with him.

“It isn’t fair of him to take our sons.”

He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching. “No, it isn’t fair, it isn’t right. But he is the king, and he’s testing our loyalty. Relenting is the only way we can avoid immediate war.” Grief and anger welled up in him. “I don’t want to give them up.”

“I know you don’t, Ransom,” she said. She lowered her hands and wrapped her arms around him, laying her cheek against his chest. “His success has blinded him to the possibility of failure. You’re right. He will offend others next. Hal should be very wary. And if his son will be king, the boy needs someone he can trust. He needs you.”

“Oh, Hal is wary already.” He stroked her hair. “Thank you for your faith in me.”

“This is not how a king is supposed to act,” she said, sighing. “But I agree. We must send them. For the reasons you shared with me, and also because he would surely attack us if we refused. Although I doubt even half of Legault would rise up to defend against him, I don’t want to see my home destroyed. I hate to say this, but the twins will probably be thrilled with the news. Maybe they will do so much damage at the castle that Jon-Landon will have to send them home?” She had a smile in her voice, but there were tears in her eyes when she looked up at him. “Oh, Ransom. Why? Why would he be so cruel? What kind of man threatens a child for power?”

Many did. Even Gervase had done so, and the old king had been a good man. Her words put him in mind of Drew Argentine, who would likely be a hostage until he came of age, if not longer. “The practice is far more common than it should be. I saw Drew Argentine after the battle,” he said. “Constance hasn’t seen him for years. Estian took him away from her.”

“I’m sorry for that,” Claire said softly, and from the way she said it, he could tell she no longer feared his connection with Constance. Perhaps she sensed, without knowing why, that the magical link between them had been severed with the passing of the ring to Montfort.

“At least Drew will be safe in Dundrennan,” Ransom said. Something felt wrong about the words, however, like the prick of a bur against his skin. He felt a little thump in his heart, and then the feeling was gone.

“Do you still know that Espion girl? The one who helped you get Benedict back from Lord Gotz.”

“Cecily still works for Jon-Landon.”

“Maybe, when you bring the boys to Kingfountain, you can ask her to watch over them. Do you think she would?”

He felt a spark of hope. “I do. For a time. Once Jon-Landon collects all those ransoms, he might be able to afford to send her to Pisan to train as a poisoner. It would be the prudent thing to do. We need our own poisoner to fight Alix.”

Claire nodded. “You said Alix’s husband was also taken?”

“Yes. I wonder who will be given custody of him? Whoever it is will be in danger. She’s not someone you’d want to cross.”

“Neither is our king,” Claire said. “You have a fortnight to bring the boys to the palace?”

“Yes. I want to spend as much time with them as I can before we go.”

“I want us all to spend time together. Sibyl missed you so much, and Keeva hardly knows you.”

“Let’s gather the family,” Ransom said. “They need to hear the news as well.”

“May the Aos Sí watch over them,” Claire murmured. “Or the Fountain. It might not hurt to pray to both right now.”



It was a painful farewell. Claire held their youngest in her arms, wiping tears from her eyes as she smiled at the boys and bid them be brave. Devon and Willem were dressed in new tunics, and each had a wooden sword buckled to the scabbard on his belt. They squirmed when she tried to kiss them.

“You must not misbehave,” said Sibyl to them in her serious way. Even though she was younger, she acted the part of an older sister to her brothers. Indeed, she had insisted on going with them to keep them out of trouble at the palace. Her request had been denied, but it had touched both Ransom and Claire.

“There’s a cistern under the palace!” Devon said excitedly. “We’re going to swim in it!”

“People drink that water,” Sibyl said with concern. “I don’t think you should.”

Willem threw up his hands. “Can we go? We should have left already.”

Ransom looked at Claire and saw her smiling through her tears.

Claire hooked her arm around Ransom’s neck and kissed his cheek. “At least no one can say they dragged the boys away by force.”

“Can we go?” Devon said, stamping his foot.

“They’ll kiss first,” said Willem with a wince of disgust. “Let’s get in the boat. Good-bye, Sib!”

Devon shoved Willem and then raced toward the boat, his brother charging after him and crying out that it would be unfair if he beat him.

“Come back to me,” Claire whispered in Ransom’s ear.

“I will,” he answered. But a feeling of foreboding struck him in the chest. Would he be able to keep his promise?





Winter has ended, and the trading ships come and go freely, and still no word has arrived from court. It is strange, truly, to watch Ransom down in the training yard, working with his knights and leading the training of another generation of warriors. I could get used to this. He is more relaxed than he’s been in a long time, but I can tell he’s anxiously awaiting a summons. There has been little news from Glosstyr, save that the winter was overly mild. One of the Occitanian hostages fell ill at Blackpool and died. That will not look well on us, I think.

I’ve written to my boys every week during the winter and saved the notes to share with them now that the seas are safe to travel.

Lord Tenthor died. I forgot to mention it. He was a good man, one who was a strong ally to us. He had no sons or daughters, so his niece, a girl of sixteen, will inherit his lands. She’s now my ward. Many nobles have been asking for her hand, for Tenthor was a man of great wealth. I have an idea that I need to run past Ransom on that front.

—Claire de Murrow, Queen of the Fair Isle Connaught Castle

In the spring





CHAPTER NINE