Jon Sprunk - Shadow's master

A sudden pressure pushed against her, and Josey lowered a hand to the swollen bump under her bellybutton. Was that a kick? She looked down. Come on, little one. Do it again for Mommy.

She didn't realize the room had quieted until Hirsch cleared his throat. Sarrow and Therbold sat at opposite sides of the table, each surrounded by their advisors. She was situated at the center, with Hirsch at her left hand and Captain Drathan at her right. Brian sat beside his father, but hadn't said much so far. Everyone was watching her.

“Majesty,” Hirsch said. “Are you unwell?”

She shifted in the wooden chair, which had no cushion or padding. “Not at all. Forgive me, my lords. You were saying?”

“I was saying,” Count Sarrow said, looking down at his rival, “what a bloated, foul-tongued-”

Hirsch cut him off. “We were asking if you would like a recess from these proceedings, Majesty. For tempers to cool.”

“A good idea, Master Adept.” Josey stood up, and everyone at the table rose with her. “My lords. We shall reconvene after the noon meal.”

She took Hirsch's arm and allowed him to escort her away from the table. Both Sarrow and Therbold looked like they had more to say, but both were too disciplined to do it in front of her. Nonsense. It's my soldiers they fear. Not me.

Hirsch led her out of the hall into a side chamber where benches and chairs rested against the walls. Iron braziers filled with hot coals were positioned around the room, offering some relief from the castle's chill. Hirsch indicated a cushioned seat, but Josey declined. She was tired of sitting.

Captain Drathan entered after them. “Majesty, Lord General Argentus reports he has found a fording approximately twelve leagues east of the old bridge's position. He asks if he should begin the crossing.”

Josey's heart leapt at the news, but then she considered the situation here. She couldn't leave these nobles at each other's throats. How long would it take to bring them around to a peace pact? She sighed. The way things were going, it could be a long time. “Not yet, Captain. Tell Argentus to make the needed preparations, but not to move the army until I've finished here.”

Josey looked to the doorway as the captain left. Brian stood beyond the shoulders of her bodyguards as if waiting for her. He hadn't spoken much at the meetings these past couple days, nor at the feast his father held in her honor.

“Sir,” she said. “Was there something you wanted?”

Her guards moved aside, but Brian stopped at the threshold as if unwilling to disturb her privacy. “Highn-Um, Majesty. I just wanted to compliment you on your handling of the negotiations.”

Hirsch smirked at Josey. “You think so, lad?”

“No one has drawn weapons,” Brian said. “That's what ended our last discussion.”

Josey put a hand to her mouth to hold back a laugh. “I suppose that is an improvement. Perhaps we have some hope.”

“I've been trying to get my father to forget this old feud for a long time, but as you have seen he can be quite…”

“Formidable,” she finished for him.

“I was going to say pig-headed. Majesty, I was wondering…seeing as we have time before the talks resume, would you like to see more of our lands?” He looked to Hirsch. “Of course, your men are welcome to accompany us.”

“Very nice of you, lad, but-,” Hirsch started to say.

Is he asking to escort me out? Fighting back the sudden flush of heat that rose to her cheeks, Josey considered the ramifications of her answer. If she accepted, she had no doubt that news of their outing would soon be wagging from every tongue in the castle, and she had enough problems on her plate to add romantic gossip on top of it all. Yet if she declined, she could lose a potential ally in these mediations. And he was rather handsome, in a rawboned kind of way. “That sounds pleasant. But Master Hirsch will have to remain here.”

Hirsch frowned. “I will? Ah, yes. I will because…”

“Because you are now officially charged with handling these talks,” Josey said.

The adept's frown deepened. “Excellent. I will, of course, endeavor to follow your fine example.”

Josey crossed the room and took Brian's elbow. “Yes, see that you do.”

She pulled on Brian's arm, forcing the young lord to keep up with her. She couldn't wait to get out of this dreary place. They rode out of the castle surrounded by thirty men of her bodyguard. The day was warm. The sun shone through gaps in the gray clouds. Once they were on the road, Josey loosened the reins and allowed Lightning to gallop. Brian was at ease on his white gelding. He gazed over at her and smiled. He had a kind smile.

“Come on!” Josey shouted, and turned Lightning off the road into a broad dirt field.

She closed her eyes as the cool air rushed through her hair. Lightning appeared to enjoy it, too, running with abandon. As they neared a low stone wall, she reined him in to a trot. The others caught up with the clank of armor and bouncing weapons.

Sergeant Trenor, who was in charge of this detachment, frowned as he rested the stock of his crossbow against his thigh. “Majesty, I didn't know you were practicing for a race, or I'd have brought my riding breeches.”

Josey ran her fingers through her hair. “I'm sorry, Sergeant. It won't happen again.”

Brian didn't look to be out of breath in the least. In fact, a healthy glow flushed his cheeks, which bristled with a fine down of whiskers.

Does he have to be so…rugged? “And I apologize to you, sir. This was supposed to be an official tour, not a free-for-all.”

“I didn't mind.” He patted his horse's muscular neck. “Manfred and I could use the exercise.”

Josey leaned down. “Manfred, meet Lightning. Now, my lord, where are you taking me?”

Brian pointed over the wall. “With your permission, Majesty, I'd like to show you our northern range, but it's a bit of a ride.”

Josey looked to her guard. “Is that all right with you, Sergeant?”

“As you will, Majesty.”

“Then lead the way, Sir Brian.”

They rode side by side along a wide pasture enclosed by trees. Beyond them, low brown hills ringed the land on all sides except to the west, where the plains ran for miles and miles all the way to a faint green line against the horizon. Brian found a country lane winding northward, and they followed it at a leisurely walk. As they rode, Josey caught herself stealing glances at the young lord. Stop it before he notices! And what about Caim? Have you forgotten him? Of course, she hadn't. He crashed through her mind every time she looked at herself in the mirror and saw the growing bulge in her belly, every night when she closed her eyes and wondered how she was going to cope with being a mother. Damn him for leaving us. This is his fault. If he had stayed… What? They would be a happy couple? Even she didn't believe that, not in her wildest fantasies.

They chatted as the sun drifted across the sky. Unlike most of the men she'd met, Brian didn't spend the time talking about himself. He asked her questions about her life, about Othir and what it was like to become the empress. Soon she found herself telling him about Hubert and Anastasia and the goings-on at court, but she avoided the circumstances under which she had gained her crown, and for no good reason that she could fathom. He was sure to have heard the story by now. But it was Caim again. She shied away from anything that remotely touched on their relationship.

“Majesty,” Brian said after they'd ridden a furlong in silence. “You've been quiet.”

Josey forced a smile. “I'm enjoying the peace. This is a lovely place.”

They approached a narrow creek. Beyond the sun-dappled waters, emerald-green meadowlands rose in a gentle slope to the distant hills. The wild grasses waved in the breeze. It was a breathtaking sight.