David Coe - Bonds of Vengeance

Evanthya grimaced slightly. “You’re not alone in that. For every Eandi lord who assumes that his minister has betrayed him, there are three ministers who think the same of their colleagues.” She looked up. “The conspiracy has brought out the worst in all of us, my lord. As you say, that’s what it makes it so dangerous.”

“All the more reason to defeat it, then, First Minister. I’d be honored to fight this battle beside you.”

The woman actually smiled, wiping away her tears again.

“Forgive me for what I said, Evanthya. I’m frightened by the conspiracy-I prefer an enemy I can see. But I didn’t wish to hurt you, nor do I want to drive you away.”

She took a long breath, her eyes meeting his for just an instant before flitting away again. After some time she nodded.

They returned to their rooms a short time later and rose the next morning to complete their ride to Orvinti. The air had grown warmer overnight, but it rained on the company throughout the day. When finally they followed the road around the south end of Lake Orvinti and into the castle, all of them were soaked and shivering.

The duke of Orvinti was not a man to waste time on formalities, and he soon had all of them taken to their quarters, where they could change clothes and warm themselves before being fed. Orvinti’s duchess joined the two dukes and their ministers for the meal, but left them after the final course was served, claiming to be weary. Tebeo knew better. Unlike his own wife, Pazice had little interest in matters of state, but she knew enough of such things to understand that Tebeo’s visit was unusual, and that the two men wished to discuss whatever had brought him to her home.

Once the duchess was gone, Brall stood, glancing first at Tebeo and then at the first ministers. He looked just as he always did, tall and hale, youthful for his age despite the shock of thick silver hair that hung over his brow. If he still suffered any lingering effects from the poisoning in Solkara, he showed no sign of it. His broad face may have had a few more lines than Tebeo remembered, but his eyes were still clear and as blue as the sky in the harvest turns.

“Shall we return to my chambers and talk there?” he asked, gesturing with a meaty hand toward the door of the hall in which they were sitting.

“Why don’t we speak alone tonight, and allow our ministers to renew their friendship? The four of us can meet tomorrow.”

Evanthya favored him with a smile of such profound gratitude that the duke felt his cheeks coloring. Brall, on the other hand, did not look at all pleased. When Fetnalla looked at him, however, a question in her yellow eyes, he nodded his assent.

When the ministers had gone, and the two dukes began to wind their way back through the dim corridors to Brall’s quarters, the tall duke cast a dark look at Tebeo. “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Give Fetnalla and Evanthya leave to go.”

Tebeo gave a small shrug. “I wished to speak with you in private, and I saw no harm in allowing them to have their privacy as well.” He didn’t think that Brall knew of the ministers’ love affair, but apparently he had given offense where none was intended and he didn’t wish to compound his error with lies.

“There is harm in it,” Brall said harshly. “You might as well give them leave to plot against us.”

“You’d rather they were party to our conversation?”

“At least then we could watch them, make certain we know what they’re doing.”

Tebeo gave a small laugh. “And would you also have us stay up through the night, so that our slumber doesn’t give them opportunity to weave their conspiracies?”

Brall just stared at him, his expression unchanged. “Make your jokes, my friend. But I assure you, in this castle, my sleep does not afford the Qirsi any opportunities.”

It took him a moment. “You have her watched?”

“Of course I do. You should do the same with Evanthya. These times require no less of us.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“But I am. Haven’t you been paying heed to all that’s happened in this kingdom since the harvest? Haven’t you been listening to the tidings brought to your city by merchants and the festivals? The conspiracy is real, Tebeo. It’s not just rumors anymore. Nobles are dying, not just here but all through the Forelands.”

“But to have her watched, as if she were already a known traitor. .” He shook his head. “I couldn’t do such a thing.”

“So instead you wait until their treachery is revealed. That’s the fool’s way, Tebeo. That’s what Chago did, and Carden, and who knows how many others who are already in Bian’s realm.”

They came to Brall’s chamber and stopped before the door. Guards stood on either side of the door, both dressed in Orvinti colors, blue and green. Brall pulled a key from within his ducal robe, unlocked the door, and indicated with an open hand that Tebeo should enter. In all his years as duke of Dantrielle, Tebeo had never locked his chambers.

Tebeo and Brall sat in the large chairs in the center of the chamber while a servant threw a pair of logs into the hearth and squatted to stir the glowing embers.

“I suppose you have guards watching her?” Tebeo asked.

“Guards, servants. Occasionally I use some of Pazice’s ladies.” He glanced at the servant. When he began again, he had lowered his voice to a whisper. “Pazice knows nothing of this, and I’d be grateful if you didn’t tell her.”

“Of course.” He sat still a moment, watching as the servant tried to rekindle the fire. “So, has Fetnalla done anything. . unusual? Have you any reason to believe that she’s betrayed you?”

“Not yet. But she may have some idea that I’ve been keeping watch on her. It may be that I’m keeping her from joining the conspiracy.”

I think it more likely that you’re driving her to it . He didn’t say this, though he wanted to. Theirs was a strong friendship, but still Brall would have taken offense. Tebeo had never seen him so suspicious of anyone, not even the Eibitharians. Moreover, it occurred to him that if Fetnalla was under constant observation, Brall was about to receive tidings of a different sort. Best he hear it first from Tebeo.

“There’s something I should tell you, Brall. If your watchers are doing their jobs properly, you’ll learn of it soon enough, but since I’ve known for some time now, I ought to be the one to tell you.”

Brall narrowed his eyes. “Tell me what?”

Tebeo took a breath, watching as the servant finally lit the blaze and left the chamber. The Brall he knew a year ago would have been surprised, by what he was about to say. He might even have disapproved, though he would have had the good sense to keep his thoughts to himself. But Tebeo wasn’t certain how the man before him would respond. Distrustful as he was of his own minister, and frightened as he seemed to be of all Qirsi, there was no way to know for certain.

“What is it, Tebeo? You’re scaring me.”

“It’s nothing really. Fetnalla and Evanthya are. . they’re in love.”

The man’s brow creased. “What?”

“Our first ministers-”

“Do you mean in love with each other?”

He nodded. “That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Are you certain it’s not a trick, a story they’ve told you to hide something else?”

“Brall, please! Stop imagining traitors at every turn and think for a moment! If our ministers wanted to plot against us, and wished to find time alone to do so, they would simply claim friendship and have done with it. They certainly wouldn’t go to this length, not when it’s bound to draw more attention to them rather than less.”

Orvinti eyed him a moment, looking angry. Then he gave a small nod and glanced at the fire.