Chapter 13
Kyren awoke to murmuring voices nearby--Amalea and someone else. For a moment, he couldn't imagine why Amalea was in his rooms, but then he remembered Magdalen's present.
Josiah.
He opened his eyes and found himself in one of her chairs, his body covered by a finely worked quilt. His neck ached from the odd position he had fallen asleep in, but his mind felt refreshed--an improvement over the past few weeks. Perhaps the lack of wine had something to do with that. After all, he'd spent the last three weeks drowning his brain in alcohol.
Josiah still lay in Amalea's bed, his eyes closed and sunken, the bandage around his hand wet with blood. He was not awake as far as Kyren could tell. Which meant that Amalea had involved someone else in this--with a whispered oath, Kyren turned around to see who it was.
"I could not deny my grandmother entrance to my rooms," Amalea said, as if she expected him to protest.
Mirella was ancient, even for an elf. A tiny, bird-like woman with bright blue eyes, she had relinquished the crown to Amalea's mother many years before. That had not stopped Amalea's mother from naming her as Second to the Queen, which was a powerful position, indeed.
"Kyren, it is good to see you doing the right thing for a change," Mirella said, her tone of voice taking the sting out of the words. "I believe what Amalea has told me. And she believes you."
Kyren had to swallow twice to wet his throat. "That's a blessing," he said, "because I am not certain anyone else will." He glanced back at Josiah. "Has he--"
"Not as yet," Amalea said before he could finish. "Grandmother thinks we should summon a Healer for him."
It was past dawn, and the sunlight shone outside. But Amalea's rooms were still dim, no doubt to spare Josiah the pain of the light. After all, he had not seen sunlight for ten years.
"It would be disastrous if he died, especially now," Mirella said. "Do you even realize--no. Of course you don't. I have my doubts either Magdalen or this Althea person even knew who he was."
"You--You know?" Kyren asked, tearing his gaze away from the windows.
"Yes. But he'll have to tell you, since I promised someone long ago not to mention it." She sighed, as if remembering--and, perhaps, regretting--that long-ago promise. "It will suffice for me to say that he is not as young as he seems."
That gave him no clues, but Kyren supposed she hadn't intended her words to give him anything. He supposed he was lucky, even then, that she hadn't thrown him into the dungeons to rot like Josiah had for ten endless years.
"If we summon the Healer--" Kyren struggled to find the right words to ask his question. "Won't she insist on contacting the Council?"
"Healers are neutral," Amalea said with some impatience. "You know that, Kyren."
"Yes, but even in this instance?" Kyren asked. "This isn't some battle, or a simple wound. He was held prisoner in this castle for ten years!"
"I hope you aren't suggesting we keep him prisoner for another decade," Mirella said sharply. "Because if you are suggesting such a thing, I will begin to think that you've taken leave of what little senses you possess, Kyren. Josiah's place is with his Master, not us."
"His--His Master?" Kyren asked, his mind racing. He only knew of one 'Master' of anything, and that was Gabriel. But surely--surely that would not be possible.
Mirella pursed her lips. "I will say no more."
Kyren knew better than to pursue that line of questioning. "Did you--Cousin, did you tell her what Magdalen desires?"
"To control the Hunt?" Amalea asked. "Yes. We were discussing what to do to warn Gabriel when you woke up."
"It is what she desires once she controls the Hunt that concerns me," Mirella said. "Do you know, Kyren? She can't think that the Council will allow it--"
"They won't be able to stop it if she has her way," Amalea said. "And she could force the Hunt to hunt the Council."
"You intend to warn the Hunt?" Kyren shook his head. "We have no treaty with the Hunt. Gabriel could just as well--" All at once, he could not think of what Gabriel might do in response to the news of the plot against him. "And what of the Council, then? Shall we warn them as well?"
"It would be advisable to warn Lucas," Mirella said. "I knew his great-uncle, Peter, and I've spoken with Lucas before. He is a honorable man."
Kyren slumped in his chair. What would happen to him once the secret was out? "I will go ask the Healer to come, since this is my--"
"Kyren, this is not your fault." Mirella stood and crossed to where he sat, her gaze both firm and concerned. "And I believe you would do best to stay in the castle for the time being--at least until we know you will be safe."
He should have expected this. They wouldn't want him to leave the castle. This was just a pretty way to look at imprisonment. "Of course," he whispered, and huddled in the chair. "Am I to be allowed to stay in my rooms? Or will the dungeons do?"
"You can keep Josiah company until he's well enough to leave," Mirella snapped. "And stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're being pardoned, Kyren. You should be pleased!"
She stopped beside the bed and stared down at Josiah. "If I had known--" Her eyes were suspiciously bright when she glanced back at Amalea. "Is there someone in the castle you trust enough to send, Amalea? I'd rather you stay as well. Your parents will want to know a bit of this, and Kyren can stay here, just in case he awakens."
"What of the Hunt and the Council, then?" Kyren asked. "I feel as if I should do something to atone for this. I--I knew he was there three weeks ago." He glanced up at Mirella. "I should do something."
"You are doing something," Amalea said. "No one is blaming you for this, Kyren." She bit her lip. "I could send Eilan."
"Then do so," Mirella said. "The quicker he is healed, the sooner we can contact the Council and the Hunt. We have a little time, I think."
"I hope," Kyren whispered, staring at Josiah again.
Amalea left then, too intent on her mission to notice Kyren's fear.
"Kyren, you will worry yourself into an early grave." Mirella placed one hand on his shoulder. "While your part in this was not small, you have acted honorably. Even Gabriel will not be able to ignore that."
"I feel that there is something more I can do," Kyren said, frustrated. "That sitting here is--"
"Sitting with him is the best thing anyone can do at the moment," Mirella said. "Amalea's wards are in place and active, so do not leave this room."
"I won't," Kyren said, but even her assurances did not make him feel any more useful.
"I will be back soon," Mirella said.
When she was gone, and the silence in the room grew too loud for him to bear, Kyren pulled a thin reed flute from his belt. It wasn't finished yet--he'd abandoned it soon after Magdalen had summoned him to her rooms--but with the little penknife, he could finish it now.
The simple act of carving soothed something deep inside his soul. And when it was finished, he put it to his lips and began to play, hoping against hope that this small effort would enter Josiah's dreams and help him remember that he was no longer alone.
Next Update: September 28
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