David Coe - Bonds of Vengeance

She gave a single nod. “Go, then. Don’t speak of this to anyone, not even your wife.”

“Yes, my lady.”

He opened the door. The same two guards who met her at the gate stood in the corridor, just outside the chamber.

When the healer was gone, Diani lay back down again, closing her eyes and waiting for the dizziness to pass.

“I already have a hundred soldiers searching the moor,” her father said. “But they have little idea of what they’re looking for other than archers. I told them that I’d received word from one of the baronies that thieves with bows had been seen on the roads.” He paused, gazing down at her hand, which he still held. “Did you see the men who did this?”

“Briefly. Tall, shaved heads, wearing riding cloaks.”

“Did they have horses?”

“Not that I saw.” She touched her shoulder gingerly-it was still tender. “You saw the arrows?”

“Yes. Brugaosans?”

“That’s what someone wants us to think.”

“But you don’t believe it.”

“Why would Edamo so such a thing, Father?” she asked, her eyes still closed. “He has no reason. With me dead, power would fall to you, a man with nothing to live for but vengeance. It makes no sense.”

“Maybe he wants war.”

“To what end? His army may be greater than ours, but he must know that under such circumstances, the queen would come to our aid. Even Trescarri might fight on our behalf.” She shook her head. “No, this wasn’t Brugaosa.”

“Then who?”

At that, she did open her eyes. “You have to ask?”

He twisted his mouth sourly and returned to the chair by his writing table. “We have no evidence that the conspiracy has been active here in Curlinte.”

“No, we don’t. But Cyro’s murder has never been explained to my satisfaction, and we’ve heard enough from Aneira and Eibithar to convince me that the Qirsi are sowing discontent across the Forelands.”

“Cyro was killed by the Brugaosans,” he said, looking away. “We know that.” She saw the pained expression on his face and felt an aching in her chest. Three years since her brother’s death and still his loss was a raw wound on their hearts.

“Why?” she said, her voice thick. “Because of the garrote? Because Edamo had threatened him after their encounter in the Dark Wood?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

She sat up again, her head feeling a bit clearer. “He’s denied it, Father. If he was going to make such a show of killing him-using the garrote rather than poison, or a dagger-why would he bother denying it?”

“He’s Brugaosan! He needs a reason to He?”

“You know what I mean.”

Her father said nothing and Diani knew that no good would come of arguing the point further.

“Those men who attacked me today were not Brugaosans,” she said again. “I’m certain of it. It was the conspiracy.”

To her relief, Sertio didn’t ask her for proof. “Which one do you think is the traitor?”

“That I don’t know. But I think we should assume the worst.”

Sertio winced. “Kreazur?”

Kreazur jal Sylbe had served as Curlinte’s first minister for six years, and as second minister for three years before that. In truth, though Diani had never cared for the man, she didn’t want to believe it either. He had been her mother’s favorite among all the Qirsi in the castle, and while others, Diani’s father among them, had urged her to look outside the castle for a new minister when Kreazur’s predecessor died, she had insisted on promoting the underminister. Just considering that he might have betrayed Dalvia’s trust in this way made Diani tremble with rage.

“Perhaps it’s not him,” she said weakly. “In which case we’ll try the underministers.”

“But we start with Kreazur,” her father said. It was hard to tell if he was acquiescing to her wishes or acknowledging his own doubts.

“I think so.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Summon him. When he gets here, tell him that you expected me back hours ago and that you’re concerned for my safety.”

“Where will you be?”

She scanned the chamber briefly. She had been in this room thousands of times, but it had been years since she and the other court children played find-the-wraith. There was a small space beside her father’s wardrobe in the far corner of the room. During the warmer turns, when the windows were open, it would have been a poor place to hide. But today, in the cold of the snows, with the shutters locked, the space was only dimly lit.

“There,” she said pointing. “By the wardrobe.”

Her father nodded. “All right. What do you expect him to say?”

“I’m not certain,” she said, shrugging. “I suppose I’ll know when I hear it.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to wait until we find the archers?”

“We may not find them.”

Sertio nodded, still looking uncertain.

She stood and walked stiffly back to the wardrobe. Her entire left side ached still and her thigh was throbbing. It would be days before she could ride again.

Sertio crossed to the door and spoke quietly to the soldiers in the corridor. Then he returned to his table and sat, holding his head in his hands. Diani hadn’t given much thought to him since waking from her ordeal. Seeing her bloodied, with arrows jutting from her body in all directions, must have struck at his heart. They had just recently lost her mother, and for at least a moment he probably thought that he was about to lose his daughter as well.

The knock at his door came sooner than Diani had expected. Her father glanced quickly in her direction, then faced the door again. He looked frightened and she could see his hands trembling.

“Enter,” he called.

She heard the door open, but couldn’t see it from where she stood.

“You summoned me, my lord?” The first minister’s smooth voice.

“Yes, Kreazur. I’m wondering if you’ve seen the duchess since midmorning. I expected her to return from her ride long before now. I’m. . I fear for her.”

“I haven’t seen her, my lord. But I doubt there’s cause for concern. She’s an accomplished rider, and she handles a sword well.” A brief pause. “She learned from the best.”

Her father gave a thin smile. “Thank you, Kreazur. Just the same, I wonder if we shouldn’t send out a party of soldiers.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary, my lord. I’m sure she’ll be returning shortly. You know how the duchess loves her rides. No doubt she’s simply enjoying the last few hours of daylight.”

Sertio looked down at his hands, his eyes flicking in her direction for just an instant. Diani wasn’t certain what to do. Even if Kreazur had betrayed them, she realized too late, he would have been expecting to have such a conversation with her father. If they wished to surprise him, they would have to let him see her.

Her father glanced at her again and she shook her head.

“You’re probably right, First Minister,” Sertio said, standing. “Thank you.”

The Qirsi stood as well. “Of course, my lord.” He walked toward the door. “If you need me, I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Very good, Kreazur. Again, my thanks.”

She heard the door open and close, but still Diani waited a few moments before stepping out of the shadows.

“Perhaps it’s not him,” her father said, sounding relieved.

“I’m not convinced of that. We’re going to wait a short while and then summon him again. And this time when he comes, I’ll be sitting right out in the open.”

“Let him see a wraith, eh?”

She grinned.

They waited until the tolling of the twilight bells. Once more Sertio sent the soldiers for Kreazur, and once more they hadn’t long to wait. His knock came just a few minutes later.