David Coe - Bonds of Vengeance

Fetnalla smiled. “I told him that I had as much chance of predicting your actions as I did of predicting storms in the planting turns.”

“Good. I had an interesting conversation with him as well.” Once more, as she had for her duke several days before, Evanthya described her discussion with Pronjed, relating to Fetnalla not only his questions about Tounstrel and Noltierre but also his comments about the regent and their mutual distrust.

“You think he’s a traitor,” Fetnalla said when Evanthya had finished.

“I think it’s possible. You thought so after Carden’s death. You even guessed that he had mind-bending magic.”

“I remember.”

“What if you were right? I found myself telling him things that I hadn’t intended, as if he were forcing me to reveal more than I wanted. Perhaps he did kill Carden.”

“What are you suggesting?”

She opened her arms wide. “Isn’t it obvious? I believe Pronjed is a traitor, and I think he’s pushing the regent toward this war with Eibithar as a way of further weakening the Eandi courts.”

“You don’t know this for certain.”

“I’m certain enough. Think about the questions he asked us. He’s trying to make certain that all of Aneira’s dukes support the alliance, yet he’s clearly concerned that they won’t. Why? Because if they give it any thought at all, they’ll see that a war with Eibithar would be disastrous, even if we join with the empire.”

“Listen to yourself, Evanthya! That’s not proof that he’s a traitor. Isn’t it possible that he’s merely using poor judgment, that both he and Numar have been seduced by this notion of an alliance with Harel?”

“I don’t think so,” Evanthya said. “Not after what he said about the regent.”

“Maybe he was lying about that.”

“To what end? If he only wished to win Tebeo’s support for the war he would have spoken as the regent’s man. But he didn’t, in fact he made a point of telling me that Numar didn’t trust him, that he was speaking to me without the regent’s knowledge. I believe he was testing my loyalty. He might even have hoped to turn me to his cause.”

Fetnalla turned away again, the look of barely controlled panic returning to her face. “Pronjed scares me. If he really does have delusion magic, he’s too dangerous a foe, at least for us alone.”

Evanthya smiled, touching Fetnalla’s soft cheek so that the woman would meet her gaze again. “That’s the beauty of what I’m proposing. We won’t be standing against him alone. I’m merely suggesting that we serve our dukes as we would anyway. We have to tell them that this war is a mistake and should be opposed. I’ve already said as much to Tebeo. No doubt he and Brall are discussing the matter as we speak.”

“I don’t know that Brall will listen to me.”

“Of course he will, especially because his closest ally will be telling him just what you are. Don’t you see, Fetnalla? If we do this right, we can deal the conspiracy another blow and prove our loyalty at the same time.”

A tear appeared on Fetnalla’s cheek, shimmering in the moonlight as it rolled over her white skin. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It can be.”

“No, it can’t, not anymore, not with what Brall has done to me.” She dabbed her cheek with the edge of her sleeve. “It almost doesn’t matter what I tell him anymore. If I advise him to withhold his men from Solkara’s army, he won’t do it. He’ll be convinced that this is what the conspiracy wants me to say. It won’t matter that Tebeo agrees with me, because he’ll know that you offered the same counsel, and since you’re Qirsi, you’re suspect in his eyes as well.”

Evanthya felt her patience waning. It wasn’t like Fetnalla to surrender so easily, and though she didn’t doubt that Brall’s suspicions and his spies had taken their toll, she knew as well that she couldn’t do this alone.

“Then what do you propose we do?” she asked.

“I told you before, I don’t know. What you’re suggesting makes sense. I just. .” She exhaled, shaking her head again.

“You’re frightened.”

“Very. More than I’ve ever been.”

“I’ll do everything I can to protect you, from Brall and from the conspiracy.” She kissed her once more. “You know that I’d give my life if it meant saving yours.”

“Yes, I do. I just don’t want it to come to that.”

Evanthya took her hands again. They were shaking. She raised Fetnalla’s fingers to her lips, kissing them gently. It was strange. For so long, Fetnalla had been the brave one, leading Evanthya into this battle, helping her overcome fears and doubts much like those to which she was giving voice now.

“It won’t,” she said, trying to sound strong and certain. “Do as I tell you, and we’ll be fine. I promise.”

Fetnalla’s shivering seemed only to grow more violent. Evanthya frowned.

“Let’s get you to your chamber,” she said. “You’re cold, and you look like you haven’t been sleeping.”

Fetnalla nodded. “Yes. I need to sleep.” She regarded Evanthya for a moment, tilting her head to the side as she often did when she grinned. Her expression remained grim, however, and there was an apology in her eyes. “I’m sorry you can’t join me, but with Brall’s spies about. .”

“I understand. Perhaps we’ll find time to steal away before the duke and I return to Dantrielle.”

Fetnalla nodded, though she looked doubtful. “I’d like that.”

They walked back to the castle and wound their way through the corridors to Fetnalla’s chamber. Evanthya saw no soldiers, but several times she heard boots scraping on the stone floors just ahead of them, only to turn a corner and find the hallway empty. By the time she had said goodnight to Fetnalla and walked hurriedly back to her own chamber on the other side of the ward, Evanthya no longer doubted that Fetnalla was being watched, as were those who consorted with her.

Weary from her journey, lonely for her love, Evanthya fell quickly into a fitful slumber, only to awaken what seemed a short time later to the sound of knocking at her door. Rising and wrapping herself in her robe, she crossed to the door.

“Who’s there?” she called.

“Your duke,” came the reply. “It’s past midmorning, First Minister. Lord Orvinti and I are about to meet in his chambers and we’d like you and Fetnalla to be there.”

Evanthya pulled the door open, smoothing her white hair. “I’ll be along shortly, my lord, but I’m afraid Fetnalla isn’t with me.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Do you know where she is?”

“I haven’t seen her since I left her last night. Isn’t she in her quarters?”

“No. That’s why I came here.”

She felt herself blanch. “Does Lord Orvinti know that you’ve come to me?”

Tebeo took a breath, wincing slightly. “Yes, he does. I told him about the two of you last night.”

She had to resist an urge to rail at him. What right did he have to share her secret with Brall? An instant later she realized that he wouldn’t see it that way. Fetnalla was Orvinti’s minister, just as she was his. Certainly Brall had as much right to know of their love as Tebeo did. The Qirsi were not chattel, but as ministers in the Eandi courts they did sacrifice certain freedoms, such as the right to share a bed with the ministers of rival nobles. It would have been within Tebeo’s authority to demand that she end her affair with Fetnalla as soon as he learned of it. Allowing it to continue had been an act of kindness. Evanthya doubted that Brall would be so generous.

“You’re angry with me,” the duke said, his eyes meeting hers.

It would have been useless to deny it. “I have no right to be, my lord.”