Jarman now, to listen to his portent of doom. “I will see the wizard later. Please show the mayor in.” She looked at Xavier. “You may leave, Commander.”
“Your Highness, one more thing.” Bella still hovered with her face in the doorway crack. “There’s a messenger from Pain Daye. He says it’s urgent.”
Of course it is
. Everything was urgent, it seemed. “Take his message, then.”
Bella grimaced, her freckled face scrunched like a fig. “Your Highness, the message comes from Guild Master Sebastian. It’s for you only.”
Amalia arched a brow. She saw Xavier turn toward the clerk. She thought she saw a fresh coat of annoyance cover his face. As a former employee of James’s patrons, he wasn’t well liked by Sebastian, she knew. The fools had tried to kill the guild master, and the man nurtured his grudge like a rare flower. He might be a Caytorean, and he might betray her one day for the interest of his nation, but he would bring Xavier down first. They shared that much in common.
Pain Daye was important. Lady Rheanna had been kept there until recently. She should arrive any day now under heavy escort. Amalia had delayed making any decisions about James’s widow. She knew nothing of her affiliation, her motives. The woman was a mystery, and she intimidated Amalia ever so slightly.
“Bring him in.”
Xavier turned to leave.
“Stay, Commander.” She wanted him present when she read the letter. If she could somehow use Sebastian’s information against him, she wanted to make sure he had no time to scheme.
Amalia wondered about Rheanna. Her claim to the Athesian throne was pure nonsense. In fact, James had had no right to it really, even as a man and an elder child. Bastards were not allowed to inherit, as simple as that. But with Emperor Adam, nothing was simple or easy. What mattered was, he had been well liked, and by consensus, he could have been chosen, just what the councillors did when they brought James to life. Exactly that.
If they wanted, they could retract their support for her. Or they could insist on championing Rheanna’s cause, ignoring her. Amalia knew this was a very painful battle that awaited her, which was why James’s widow still had her pretty head attached to her shoulders. She had to make the woman throw her support behind her. And spare her life in return. A fair deal.
Bella moved aside to let a rider enter. He was shadowed by two sentries, but a quick wag of a finger from the warlord stopped them at the threshold. Bella pointed at her records. Amalia shook her head. She would need no minutes for this.
The man bowed slightly. “Your Highness. Commander.”
Amalia realized something was wrong. “Speak.”
She could hear the man’s complicated swallow blob down his gullet. “Lady Rheanna has escaped.”
Lady Rheanna has escaped…
Silence. It stretched and stretched. The messenger just waited, sorry and miserable.
“Details.” Amalia remembered to make her lips move.
“As you instructed, she was sent here under heavy patrol. Master Sebastian even had a decoy convoy leave two days prior.But her column was ambushed not three days away from the mansion. Lots of men were killed, and the others surrendered. Then, these attackers took all their horses so they couldn’t pursue, and when the news finally got back to Pain Daye, it was already too late. Master Sebastian did send hunting parties everywhere, and he sent a few of us on fast horses to Ecol. I don’t know what happened since.” He handed her a rolled note, sealed with Sebastian’s sigil.
Amalia looked at the warlord. He was one of the few men who knew about Rheanna’s captivity. His own men had been responsible for carrying news and instruction back and forth.
Which meant someone in her circle of trust had spoken, or betrayed her.
If Xavier was party to this plot, his face didn’t show it. Instead, it was grim, dark, bubbling with indignation. He was squinting madly. “I will look into
“Your Highness, one more thing.” Bella still hovered with her face in the doorway crack. “There’s a messenger from Pain Daye. He says it’s urgent.”
Of course it is
. Everything was urgent, it seemed. “Take his message, then.”
Bella grimaced, her freckled face scrunched like a fig. “Your Highness, the message comes from Guild Master Sebastian. It’s for you only.”
Amalia arched a brow. She saw Xavier turn toward the clerk. She thought she saw a fresh coat of annoyance cover his face. As a former employee of James’s patrons, he wasn’t well liked by Sebastian, she knew. The fools had tried to kill the guild master, and the man nurtured his grudge like a rare flower. He might be a Caytorean, and he might betray her one day for the interest of his nation, but he would bring Xavier down first. They shared that much in common.
Pain Daye was important. Lady Rheanna had been kept there until recently. She should arrive any day now under heavy escort. Amalia had delayed making any decisions about James’s widow. She knew nothing of her affiliation, her motives. The woman was a mystery, and she intimidated Amalia ever so slightly.
“Bring him in.”
Xavier turned to leave.
“Stay, Commander.” She wanted him present when she read the letter. If she could somehow use Sebastian’s information against him, she wanted to make sure he had no time to scheme.
Amalia wondered about Rheanna. Her claim to the Athesian throne was pure nonsense. In fact, James had had no right to it really, even as a man and an elder child. Bastards were not allowed to inherit, as simple as that. But with Emperor Adam, nothing was simple or easy. What mattered was, he had been well liked, and by consensus, he could have been chosen, just what the councillors did when they brought James to life. Exactly that.
If they wanted, they could retract their support for her. Or they could insist on championing Rheanna’s cause, ignoring her. Amalia knew this was a very painful battle that awaited her, which was why James’s widow still had her pretty head attached to her shoulders. She had to make the woman throw her support behind her. And spare her life in return. A fair deal.
Bella moved aside to let a rider enter. He was shadowed by two sentries, but a quick wag of a finger from the warlord stopped them at the threshold. Bella pointed at her records. Amalia shook her head. She would need no minutes for this.
The man bowed slightly. “Your Highness. Commander.”
Amalia realized something was wrong. “Speak.”
She could hear the man’s complicated swallow blob down his gullet. “Lady Rheanna has escaped.”
Lady Rheanna has escaped…
Silence. It stretched and stretched. The messenger just waited, sorry and miserable.
“Details.” Amalia remembered to make her lips move.
“As you instructed, she was sent here under heavy patrol. Master Sebastian even had a decoy convoy leave two days prior.But her column was ambushed not three days away from the mansion. Lots of men were killed, and the others surrendered. Then, these attackers took all their horses so they couldn’t pursue, and when the news finally got back to Pain Daye, it was already too late. Master Sebastian did send hunting parties everywhere, and he sent a few of us on fast horses to Ecol. I don’t know what happened since.” He handed her a rolled note, sealed with Sebastian’s sigil.
Amalia looked at the warlord. He was one of the few men who knew about Rheanna’s captivity. His own men had been responsible for carrying news and instruction back and forth.
Which meant someone in her circle of trust had spoken, or betrayed her.
If Xavier was party to this plot, his face didn’t show it. Instead, it was grim, dark, bubbling with indignation. He was squinting madly. “I will look into
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