Lynn Flewelling - The Bone Doll's Twin

He ran back into the hall and found Cook and the others flailing at a smoking tapestry and kicking smoldering rushes onto the hearth.

“Douse!” Arkoniel ordered, clapping his hands sharply and spreading his palms over the floor. The last of the sparks fizzled out, leaving a stinking cloud in their wake. “Iya’s hurt. I need simples for a burn, and clean rags for binding.”

Cook fetched what he needed, and Tharin followed him out to the barracks to oversee the binding of Iya’s hand.

“What happened?” the captain demanded. “What was it you were trying to do?”

Iya winced as Arkoniel bathed her hand in a basin. “Something rather unwise, it would seem.”

Tharin waited, giving her the opportunity to elucidate. When she didn’t, he nodded and said, “You’d best stay out here tonight. I’ll sleep in the hall.”

“Thank you.” She looked up from Arkoniel’s work. “What are you doing here, Tharin? Rhius is at Atyion, isn’t he?”

“I’m Prince Tobin’s swordmaster. I’ve stayed behind to continue his training.” “Indeed, Tharin?”

Something in the way Iya said this made Arkoniel pause and look up.

“I’ve known you since you and Rhius were boys together. Tell me how Rhius fares. I’ve been away too long and feel like a stranger.”

Tharin rubbed a hand over his short beard. “He’s had a rough time of it, as you might imagine. It was hard before, and losing Ariani in such a way—not just her death, but having her mad all those years after the birth, and hating him.” He shook his head. “I can’t for the life of me understand why she blamed him for that child dying, or why she took it so hard. I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, Iya, but I think there was more of her mother in her than anyone ever guessed. Some say that’s why the dead child haunts the living one, though I don’t put any stock in that.”

“What else do people say?”

“Oh, all sorts of things.”

“For the sake of the child, tell me. You know it will go no further with us.”

Tharin looked down at his scarred hands. “There are those who say that Rhius found out he wasn’t the father and killed one of the babes before anyone could stop him; that that’s why the dead child haunts, and why he keeps Tobin away from court.”

“What nonsense! How is the duke managing at court?”

“The king keeps him close, as always. He calls Rhius ‘brother,’ but—Things have been a bit strained between them since she died, though a good deal of that seems to be on Rhius’ side. He’s cleared out of his rooms at the New Palace and gone back to Atyion. He can’t even bear to be here anymore.”

“That’s not fair to the child.”

Tharin looked up at them and, for the first time, Arkoniel saw a shadow of pain and guilt there. “I know that and I told him so. That’s part of the reason I was sent back, if you must know. I haven’t told anyone here at the keep, for fear it would get back to Tobin. It would break his heart and it’s about broken mine.”

Iya took his hand in her good one. “You’ve always spoken to Rhius like a brother, Tharin. I can’t imagine that you’ve fallen too far out of his graces. I’ll speak to him about it when I meet him.”

Tharin rose to go. “You don’t need to. This will pass. Good night to you.”

Iya watched him go, then shook her head. “I’ve often regretted not telling him.”

Arkoniel nodded. “I feel it more strongly the longer I’m here.”

“Let’s leave things as they are for now.” Iya flexed her bandaged hand and winced. “I can ride with this. I think I’ll be off tomorrow. I want to see Ero again, and have a word with Rhius.”

“Ero? That’s walking into the wolves’ own den. You’re sure to meet with Harriers there.”

“No doubt, but they need looking into. I wish Illior had given us a glimpse of them when this whole thing started. Don’t fret, Arkoniel. I’ll be careful.”

“More careful than you were in the hall just now, I hope. What happened?”

“I don’t know, exactly. When I first arrived tonight and it attacked I felt the circle of protection I’d cast bow like a tent wall in a high wind. Just now I thought something stronger was called for and attempted to push it from the room and seal the hall against it until morning.”

“Did you make an error in the pattern?”

“No, the spell was laid out properly. But it didn’t work, as you saw. As I said earlier, this spirit is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. I wish I had more time to study it, but as things stand it would be too disruptive for the children. I don’t even dare go back in the house. I would like to see Tobin again before I go, though. Will you bring him to me in the morning? Alone, this time.”

“Of course. But I wouldn’t expect it to be a long conversation if I were you. He’s not easily drawn.”

Iya lay down on the pallet and chuckled. “I could see that much at a glance. By the Light, you do have your work cut out for you!”

Ki was at the open window when Tobin woke the next morning. He stood with his chin on one hand, picking absently at a patch of lichen on the sill with long, restless fingers. He looked younger in daylight, and sad.

“Do you miss your family?”

Ki’s head jerked up. “You must be a wizard, too. You can read thoughts.” But he smiled as he said it. “It’s awful quiet here, isn’t it?”

Tobin sat up and stretched. “Father’s men make a lot of noise when they’re here. But they’re all at Atyion now.”

“I’ve been there.” Ki hitched himself up on the sill, bare legs dangling under the hem of his shirt. “At least I’ve ridden past it on the way to the city. Your castle is the biggest in Skala, outside of Ero. How many rooms does it have?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been there.” Seeing Ki’s eyebrows shoot up, he added, “I’ve never been anywhere except here and Alestun. I was born at the Palace but I don’t remember it.”

“You don’t go visiting? We have family all over the place and go guest with them. If my uncle were the king, I’d want to go to Ero all the time. There’s music there, and dancing, and players in the street and—” He broke off. “Oh, because of the demon?”

“I don’t know. Mama didn’t like to go anywhere. And Father says there’s plague in the cities.” It occurred to Tobin that Ki had survived his travels well enough. He shrugged. “I’ve always just been here.”

Ki twisted around to look out the window. “Well, what do you do for fun? I bet you don’t have to mend walls or tend pigs!”

Tobin grinned. “No, Father has tenants to do those things. I train with Tharin and go hunting in the forest. And I have a toy city my father made for me, but Arkoniel’s in that room now so I’ll have to show you later.”

“All right then, let’s go hunting.” Ki slid off the sill and began looking under the bed for his clothes. “How many hounds do you have? I didn’t see any in the hall last night.”

“Just a few old ones in the yard. But I don’t hunt with them; dogs don’t like me. But Tharin says I’m a fine archer. I’ll ask if he can take us hunting.”

Brown eyes peered at him over the edge of the bed. “ Take us? You mean you don’t go by yourself?”

“I’m not to go away from the keep alone.”

Ki disappeared again and Tobin heard a sigh. “All right then. It’s not too cold to swim, or we could fish. I saw a good spot at the bottom of the meadow.”

“I’ve never fished,” Tobin admitted, feeling very awkward. “And I can’t swim.”

Ki rose up and rested his elbows on the edge of the bed, regarding Tobin quizzically. “How old are you?”