The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)

“You fight very well, Sureya,” Trynne said, turning around and smoothing her dress. “I thought you came here to be taught, but you are more capable than many of the girls who have been training for months.”

Sureya blushed and bowed her head. “I am not nearly as skilled as you are, Lady Trynne.”

“Who taught you?”

“My father has only daughters. He made certain we were trained to defend ourselves. There was a man, a mercenary of Genevar who had gone to live among the Bhikhu. My father hired him to train us.”

Trynne wrinkled her brow. “Your father mentioned the Bhikhu previously. They are the ones who fight for Gahalatine.”

Sureya nodded. “I cannot float as the Bhikhu do.” She wrung her hands together. “You fought today like Turandokht, Lady Trynne. I am honored to serve you.”

Trynne approached her, appraising her further. “You fought very well yourself. You use your elbows and feet as deftly as you do your weapons. Who is this Turandokht you mention?”

“You have not heard of her?” Sureya said in surprise. “She was the most famous Fountain-blessed of her generation.”

“In our histories, the most famous Fountain-blessed was the Maid of Donremy. She was a girl from an obscure village in Occitania who led her people to victory against Ceredigion. Could we be using different names for the same person?”

“No, Turandokht is from our part of the world,” Sureya insisted. “She was from Chandigarl. Her uncle was the Emperor of Chandigarl three centuries ago. Her father’s name was Turan. In that country, dokht means ‘daughter.’ She had brothers, but she was the best fighter and horse rider in all Chandigarl. She fought with hook swords. Two of them. They were Turandokht’s specialty.”

Trynne nodded. “While I am gone, please speak to Farnes about them. He will have the castle weaponsmith make them. Thank you for sharing her story with me.”

Sureya beamed at her with pleasure. “Even your name sounds like it comes from Turan, Lady Trynne. She was famous in our lands. She refused to marry anyone who could not outwrestle her. It was said that if a man challenged her for the right, he had to give her three horses if he failed. There was grazing land dedicated to the herd of horses she’d won. No one ever did defeat her, although she did choose to marry eventually. After Turan died, her brothers fought over the inheritance. People said that she should have inherited all of her father’s wealth, for she was very wise.”

“Whom did she marry?” Trynne asked. Her father had always said that certain roles were played over and over throughout history. He had described it as being trapped on a waterwheel in a river of destiny that one could not easily escape. She knew better than to ignore coincidences.

“A man who tried and failed to murder her father,” Sureya answered with an impish smile. “The history of the East Kingdoms is lavish with intrigues.”

The words sent a tremor through Trynne, as if some heavy stone were being dragged across the floor, rumbling the entire castle. It struck her forcibly, stealing her breath.

“Are you well, my lady?” Sureya asked.

“I am,” Trynne said, though she felt slightly dizzy. “I must be away. Thank you for sharing the history with me.”

“I’ve offended you,” Sureya said, her face growing worried.

“No, you haven’t,” Trynne said, touching the girl’s arm. “My father is missing. I worry about him every day. Your words struck me, that is all. It would be . . . it would be very difficult for me to love a man who’d hurt him.” Fallon’s face flashed inside her mind, along with the remembrance of the silver mask she had taken from his tent in her guise as the Painted Knight. If Fallon had had anything to do with her father’s disappearance, whatever his reasons, she would lose all respect for him.

Sureya nodded in understanding. “I should have been more cautious in my words. Forgive me. I share your pain, Lady Trynne. I too wonder what has become of my father.” Her brow furrowed with worry. “I would give anything to know.”

Trynne found herself liking the princess more and more. The two embraced, a simple gesture that strengthened their connection. Trynne gave her new friend a smile. “I will look forward to training with you when I return.”

“Is it near the Feast of St. Benedick?” Sureya asked. “Are you going to meet your lover?”

Trynne’s eyes widened with shock. “Grand Duke Elwis?”

Sureya nodded, but her eyes were guarded.

“No!” she replied, laughing a little. “No, he . . . I am not going to see him yet. And he and I are not . . . attached. I promised him that I would visit, but I need to go to Brythonica first to see my mother. She is leaving on a great journey.”

Sureya blinked with surprise. “You do not care for the grand duke? The one whom I met?” A little flush crept onto the princess’s cheeks.

Trynne shook her head no. “He is much changed from what he was. I admire him, but no . . . things are more difficult for me.” She swallowed. “I’m in love with another duke. But I know that I cannot be his. My mother is a Wizr, and she sees things that will happen in the future.” It felt good to speak about it with someone who wasn’t directly involved in the situation. Genny was understanding, but she was also Fallon’s sister.

Sureya’s jaw dropped. “There is no more powerful gift from the Fountain,” she whispered.

“That is true,” Trynne said. “She told me she has seen a vision of the man I will marry. And he is not the man that I wanted him to be.”

Sureya blinked in understanding. “How difficult for you,” she said, taking Trynne’s hands. “I’m sorry.”

Trynne shrugged. “My family is used to swimming in deep waters, you could say.”

“And your mother is leaving the court of Kingfountain?” Sureya said. “Isn’t she the king’s Wizr?”

“Yes. The king’s blood-sister will stand in for her while she’s away. My mother had a vision of the future. She will be departing by boat.”

“She seeks Fusang,” Sureya whispered reverently. “I am sorry. In your religion, it is called the Deep Fathoms.”

Trynne cocked her head. “Yes. How did you know?”

Sureya grew more excited. “There is a legend in our culture. Over a thousand years ago, a traveler came to the emperor’s palace claiming to have crossed the sea. He had discovered Fusang, the place between the worlds. One can only reach it by sea. The dead go there. But so can the living, those whom Fusang summons. There is a tree there full of different fruit. One of them grants immortality. When the emperor learned of it, he sent his chief Wizr, Xu Fu, with a fleet of ships to discover it. He never returned. They say that Xu Fu did find it and that he took the fruit of immortality for himself. That he is still alive. That he serves the people in secret and travels the world in disguise, advising kings and emperors and warning them to hearken to the Fountain. They say the tree with the fruit is the source of the Fountain. That water gushes from its roots.”

Trynne had never heard these tales, but they ignited her imagination.