“I am safe, Father. But you need to know that Captain Helias betrayed me to Gargaron. He betrayed the trust both you and Kal have shown him.”
“Helias.” He doesn’t look surprised. “Highborn men like him resent my success. That explains why I was moved out of the palace to quarters in the Royal Barracks. There’s been talk lately among the court officials about how lowborn men should no longer be allowed to become officers, that only highborn men are fit for leadership.”
“Isn’t that what you left Saro-Urok to escape?”
“In Efea, the poets sang, a man can be anything. Even a poor baker’s son like myself. Do you know why our Royal Army has time and again defeated larger enemy forces? Because our soldiers rise if they show promise. To change that is to corrupt the heart of Efea.”
“That’s what I came here to talk to you about.”
I glance toward the gate because I do not want Wenru’s attendants to barge in unexpectedly and find me here, but the gate is barred from the inside, as if Father wants peace to consider the life he threw away.
“It’s true. Efea is in danger, but we have a chance to save ourselves. I need your help. I have to meet the king in secret. Tomorrow.”
“Surely by now you comprehend why you have to stay away from the palace. Anyway, there’s nowhere His Gracious Majesty can secretly meet you. He can’t come to this compound because people know I come here. He is surrounded day and night by officials, servants, and soldiers. And now, of course, by his family. His affianced bride will be arriving soon.”
“Talon!” Now I understand.
“What?”
“Princess Talessa must have sent the message in Princess Berenise’s missive, although I can’t fathom why she would do such a thing. The words were spelled wrong because she only started learning her letters while training at Garon Stable. Did you know they’re hiding that she is an ill-wisher? That her tongue was cut out to spare Meno??”
“Yes, Lady Meno? told me when we discussed… her scars. How do you know about the words being spelled wrong?”
I can’t tell him, but I already see the next opening of these Rings. “I assure you, Father, I will never go back to the palace of a Saroese king. Convince Kal to announce a victory game to be held tomorrow. An all-comers Fives trial at the City Fives Court to honor the citizens’ courage in outlasting the siege. He can come masked, and we can speak secretly.”
“I won’t agree to anything until you explain how you escaped the mines. Did the king’s agents rescue you, as he hoped?” Again he touches the scar.
“I led a revolt in the mines where Gargaron was keeping me. My comrades and I were then aided by Efeans, and we went on to rescue Maraya and Polodos.”
“Maraya? He had Maraya too?”
“Yes. But he doesn’t have us now. We have joined the rebellion.”
“The poet’s words we see written on walls? Of course we’ve been cut off from our usual sources of news but a few messenger pigeons have flown in from garrisons in the north with reports they are being attacked and overrun by outlaws and criminals. There was even a report that outlying temples have been turned into stables in a most impious manner.…”
“That’s not true! The temples are being restored to the Mother of All.”
He stares. “Have you something to say on this subject, Jessamy? Are you saying these are not isolated incidents but part of a broader action?”
For one breath I hesitate, gathering my courage for the risk I must take if I want my plan to work. Can I trust my father not to give us up? Does he mourn what he lost enough to choose his family over his ambition this time?
“The Efean rebellion has taken over the north.”
“And you’ve come to warn me. What do you know?”
“You’re not listening. I am part of the rebellion. So are Amaya and Maraya. So is Mother. In fact, Mother is one of its leaders. She is its queen.”
He takes an agitated turn around the courtyard before returning to stand in front of me. “Kiya? What can you mean by saying this?”
“All of our wars have to do with the Saroese still fighting over their broken empire. If Efea must keep fighting, she should do so for herself, not for others. So here is your choice, Father. You can fight for Efea, or you can fight for the Saroese who conquered Efea one hundred years ago. If the Efean revolt loses, Lord Gargaron will hunt Mother down and he will kill her. This time you can’t pretend otherwise. You can’t look the other way. Is that what you want? For Efea to be watered by her blood?”
“Did she send you?”
“No.”
“Ah.” He looks away, regret a shadow that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
“You can make this choice not because there is a reward in it for you, but because you know it is right. Do you hear what I’m saying?”
He stares at me for so long, too incredulous to reply, that I finally reach for his hand. He shakes me off.
“You want me to betray the king and queen and join the rebellion.”
“I am asking you to fight for Efea. Not for Efea’s conquerors. Fight for your daughters, and for your strange new son. Fight for the woman you love because you were afraid to fight for her when she needed it most. Don’t abandon us this time, Father.” I wipe away tears and say the words we never used in our house. “I love you.”
“Jessamy…” He is powerfully affected, almost too choked to speak, but before he can go on we are interrupted by a hammering on the closed gate between this courtyard and the kitchen yard.
“General Esladas! Open up at once.” The voice belongs to Captain Neartos.
26
I immediately clamber up the trellis and swing onto the roof. When I glance down Father is watching me with a look caught between amazement and pride. Then he waves at me to retreat, to get out. But of course I disobey. As he unbars the gate I roll up against the kitchen trellis so it hides me. In the kitchen yard Santhay has set Wenru in a leather cradle and taken her own child into her arms protectively. Lord Gargaron stands beside the cradle, looking down at Wenru with distaste.
He glances at the three women and says sharply, “Go inside and do not come out until you are called.”
They flee, so frightened that none bother to pick up Wenru, poor little mite.
Father walks into view. “My lord, this is an unexpected visit.”
“Indeed I am sure it must be, you keeping this compound as your secret hideaway. Does Her Gracious Majesty know you have taken a new Commoner concubine?”
“I have taken no concubine or lover, my lord. I hired Santhay as a wet nurse for my son.” He picks up Wenru, who clutches his vest with little baby fists in a gesture so precious that for an instant I wonder if I have dreamed all my other interactions with him. But the baby stares with such rancor at Gargaron that I could almost cheer, because I think I have finally figured out who Wenru is.
“What a sour, dark little face that baby has. You confound me by acknowledging him so openly!”