The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)

“We all were,” Samrao said with a humble bow.

Trynne took Sureya’s wrist and whispered the word of power that would make them invisible. She was wrapped up in the magic instantly and felt her supply of it start to slowly drain. The princess gripped her hand back, almost hard enough to hurt, and Trynne led the way around the columns and furniture. They needed to get around Gahalatine so she could access the ley line.

The servants who had crowded into the hall to hear the speech could not see them, and a few bumped into Trynne, only to stare in surprise at the seemingly blank space before them. Many of them were visibly relieved, their countenances changed by Gahalatine’s words. His magic had convinced them of his goodness and fairness, and now that the threat of destruction had passed, they were resigned to his victory.

“Who was that young woman?” she heard Gahalatine ask Samrao. “Where is she?”

“My . . . my lord?” Samrao asked in confusion.

“The one who was standing right there? Where did she go?”

“Whom do you speak of?” Samrao said. “The room is full of servants.”

Gahalatine started after her, pushing his way through the crowd. He was clearly drawn to her use of the magic, which he could no doubt sense in the cavernous room. Since he was Fountain-blessed, he could follow her. Sureya, whom she was still pulling along, bumped into her, but Trynne didn’t slow her pace.

When she finally glanced back, Gahalatine was looking in her direction, his eyes livid, his mouth pursed in a determined frown. She watched him lift the metal circle dangling from one of the leather cords around his neck. It was hollow in the middle, but the outside was covered in little spokes, like starbursts that went at odd angles from the round. The opening in the middle was the size of a forefinger and thumb connected into a circle. He picked up the medallion by some of the pointed ends and brought it up to his left eye as he walked.

Trynne felt the ley line just in front of her and tugged on Sureya’s arm to hurry them both.

“Stop!” Gahalatine commanded. “I know of you. Stop!” His magic blasted at her in a hot spurt, but it rolled off her effortlessly. She knew then that he was looking at her through the hole in his strange medallion. He could see her. His eyes blazed with blue fire, and his cheek muscle twitched with desperation. He tried to reach out his hand toward her, but he wasn’t close enough.

“Kennesayrim,” Trynne uttered, holding fast to Sureya’s arm as they both stepped onto the ley line and lurched away.





CHAPTER THREE


Zenana




Queen Genevieve listened intently to Trynne’s tale of the narrow escape from Chandleer Oasis. When Trynne finally finished, the queen patted her own heart and pulled Trynne into a relieved embrace.

“Thank the Fountain,” she murmured, stroking Trynne’s hair and arm. “I could have sent Morwenna, but I did not want her knowing about this new alliance quite yet. I’m so thankful you are safe, Trynne. I had not realized I would be sending you to such a dangerous place. This Gahalatine can strike anyone, anywhere, it seems.”

Trynne’s heart had calmed enough that she could now look back on the narrow escape with a certain amount of excitement. It had been close. Perhaps too close. She worried that Genny would be more cautious the next time before sending her away.

“And you, Princess Sureya,” Genevieve said. She gestured for the girl to come closer and join them. Sureya had edged away during Trynne’s recounting of the details, likely because her father’s defeat was still much too fresh for her.

As soon as the princess reached them, Genevieve took her hands, examining the tattoos that wound partway up her arms. In Chandleer, Trynne had felt out of place while wearing the fashions of her own people. She imagined Sureya had a similar feeling. The girl looked lost and uncomfortably cold. “You are most welcome to Kingfountain,” Genevieve continued. “Only I don’t imagine you are called a princess in Chandleer? What is your title?”

Sureya, still holding the queen’s hands, managed a sort of curtsy. “Rani, Your Highness.” Her voice trembled. “Does Your Majesty know what may yet happen to my father? To the other rulers Gahalatine has conquered?” There was a sheen of worried tears in her eyes.

Genevieve put her arm around the girl and guided her to the window seat, where she sat down with her. Trynne had known the queen her entire life and was one of the few who still called her Genny. The queen, who was originally from Atabyrion, had adopted the fashions of Ceredigion, although less ostentatiously than previous queens. She was kindhearted and generous, a true partner and equal to her husband, King Drew, who relied on her counsel and was completely devoted to her. Since the birth of their first child, the royal couple had been a bit beleaguered by the lack of sleep because they refused to let their many nurses share all their burdens. Genny had had an easy pregnancy and delivery, however, and she and Drew were pleased to welcome the little girl they had named Kathryn, after Drew’s mother. Trynne gazed down at the babe, tucked into the soft downy blankets of her crib, wondering what dreams Kate could be having.

They were all deeply worried about the life awaiting the innocent child. A haze of despair and dread had settled over the realm after the Battle of Guilme. It had been a harsh teacher, showing them how unprepared they were to face such a mighty enemy.

Trynne could still remember the enormous treasure ships she had seen anchored off the coast of Brugia before the battle. They had brought a hundred thousand soldiers from Chandigarl, and the Espion had since learned that Gahalatine’s full army was nearly ten times that number. He had more than a dozen Wizrs serving him, whereas Drew only had one left. Trynne’s mother.

Gahalatine had called off the attack after learning that Owen had fallen victim to some sort of foul play—but he’d promised to return in a year to finish what he had started. He’d left a garrison to control Guilme, and they had learned much about their enemy from watching the goings-on there. What they had learned made their situation seem even more desperate.

“My dear,” Genevieve said softly, stroking Sureya’s hands, “since your father was taken to the imperial palace in the Forbidden Court, he will be chosen for some duty for the emperor. Our poisoner has been there, and she says the city is so massive that it is difficult to traverse it within a day. Gahalatine changed the capital of Chandigarl to the Forbidden Court after he started ruling his empire. Your father will likely live in comfort. That’s what we know so far. From what Trynne just told me, it sounds as if Gahalatine was perhaps interested in you?”

Sureya nodded miserably. “Your Highness, it was my greatest fear to be taken to the Forbidden Court.”