Michael Sullivan - Percepliquis

“I know. Alric already told me.”

“Did he say what it was to be about?”

“It’ll be about the invasion, I’m sure. She will want to mount a full-scale retaliation. Alric expects she will use this crisis to demand Melengar join the empire.”

“What will Alric do?”

“What can he do? Alric isn’t a king without a kingdom. I should warn you that I intend to join him. I will gather what men Alric still has, form a troop, and volunteer to fight.”

Once more the quiet, submissive nod.

“Why do you do that? Why must you give in to me without even a protest? If I had said I was going off to war a month ago, I would have never heard the end of it.”

“A month ago you were my son; today you are Count Pickering.”

He watched her clutch the shawl with a white-knuckled fist, her mouth set, her other hand holding the doorframe.

“Maybe he survived,” Mauvin said. “He’s gotten through tough situations before. There’s a chance he could have fought his way out. With his sword no one could ever beat him-not even Braga.”

Her lips trembled; her eyes grew glassy. “Come,” she said, and disappeared back into the castle. He followed as she led the way to her chambers. There were three beds in the room. With all the refugees, space was tight in the palace these days. The chamberlain did his best to accommodate them according to rank, but there was only so much he could do. Mauvin bunked with Alric and now his brother Denek as well. Mauvin knew his mother shared her room with his sister, Lenare, and the lady Alenda Lanaklin of Glouston, neither of whom was there at that moment.

The room was a fraction of the size of her bedchamber back home. The beds themselves were small single bunks. The plain headboards were dressed with quilts adorned with patterns of roses. Leaded glass windows let the light in, but sheer white curtains turned the brilliance into a muted fog, which felt heavy and oppressive. The room had the air of a funeral. On the dresser he spotted the familiar statuette of Novron that used to be in their chapel. The demigod sat upon his throne, one hand upraised in a gesture of authority. Beside it was a single salifan candle, still burning. On the floor before it lay her bed pillow, two dents side by side where she had knelt.

His mother walked to the wardrobe and withdrew a long blanket-wrapped bundle. She turned and held it out. There was a formality in her movement, a solemnness in her eyes. He looked at the bundle-long and thin, tied with a green silk ribbon, the kind she and Lenare used to bind their hair. The blanket it held was like a shroud over a dead body. Mauvin did not want to touch it.

“No,” he said without meaning to, and took a step backward.

“Take it,” she told him.

The door opened abruptly.

“I don’t want to go alone,” Alenda Lanaklin said as she and his sister, Lenare, entered. The two women were also dressed in dark conservative gowns. Lenare carried a plate of food, and Alenda a cup. “It’s awkward. I don’t even know him. Oh-” They both stopped.

Mauvin hastily took the bundle from his mother. He did not look at it and quickly moved toward the door.

“I’m sorry,” Alenda said. She was staring at him, her face troubled.

“Excuse me, ladies,” Mauvin muttered, and walked past them. He kept his eyes focused on the floor as he went.

“Mauvin?” Alenda called down the hallway.

He heard her steps behind him and stopped, but he did not turn.

He felt her touch his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“You said that.”

“That was for interrupting.”

He felt her press against him, and she kissed his cheek.

“Thank you.” He watched as she worked hard to force a smile even as a tear slipped down her cheek.

“Your mother hasn’t eaten. She hardly even leaves the room. Lenare and I went to get her something.”

“That’s very kind.”

“Are you all right?”

“I should be asking you that. I lost a father, but you lost a father and two brothers as well.”

She nodded and sniffled. “I’ve been trying not to think about it. There’s so much-too much. Everyone has lost someone. You can’t have a conversation anymore without people crying their eyes out.” She half laughed, half cried. “See?”

He reached up and wiped her tears. Her cheeks were amazingly soft; the wetness made them shine.

“What were you and Lenare talking about?” he asked.

“Oh, that?” she said, sounding embarrassed. “It will sound foolish.”

“Perhaps foolishness is needed right now.” He made a face and winked at her.

She smiled, this time more easily.

“Com’on,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her with him down the hall. “Tell me this terrible secret.”

“It’s not a secret. I just wanted Lenare to come with me when I meet my brother.”

“Myron?”

She nodded. “I’m a little nervous about it-frightened, actually. How do I explain why I never bothered to see him?”

“Why didn’t you?”

She shrugged self-consciously. “I should have. I just-He was a stranger. If only my father had taken me, but he didn’t. He seemed like he wanted to forget Myron existed. I think he was ashamed of him and some of that rubbed off on me, I guess.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Of him.”

“You’re scared of Myron?” He started to chuckle, but he stopped abruptly when he saw the seriousness in her eyes.

“I knew you’d think me foolish!”

“It’s just that we’re talking about Myron and-”

“He’s the marquis now!” she exclaimed. “He’s the head of my house. By law, I have to do as he says, go where he orders, marry whom he chooses. What if he hates me? What if he decides to punish me for the hardships he has had to endure? I’ve lived in a castle with servants who dressed, fed, and bathed me. I’ve attended feasts and tournaments, galas and picnics. I’ve worn silk, lace, finely embroidered gowns, and jewelry. While he-” She stopped. “Since the age of four, Myron has been sequestered at the Winds Abbey. He has been forced to work with his hands in the dirt, worn coarse wool, and never gone anywhere or seen anyone-not even his family. Now they are all dead, except for me. Of course he hates me. Why wouldn’t he? He’ll curse me and I’ll be the target of all his pain and frustration. He’ll deny me, just as we denied him. He’ll send me away, strip me of my title, and leave me penniless. And… and… I can’t even blame him.”

She looked up at Mauvin’s face, confused. “What? What?”

How is Royce?” Arista asked Hadrian as they took seats next to each other near the end of the table. There were no place cards, and Hadrian had no clue where they might want him to sit. He looked to the princess for guidance, but all she offered was a shrug.

“Not great, but who is these days?” He glanced at Alric, who was taking a seat across from Arista, then at Mauvin, who sat next to his king. “I was sorry to hear about your father,” he offered.

Mauvin replied with an almost imperceptible nod. Arista stood, reached across the table, and took Mauvin’s hand. She did not say a word but merely looked into his eyes, offering a weak smile.

“See, that’s the difference,” Mauvin said. “I suffer a loss and people console me. Royce suffers a loss and whole towns evacuate.” He offered a sad smile. “I’m fine, really. My father led a good life, married the most beautiful woman in the realm, raised four children, outlived one, and died in battle defending his home. I should hope to do half as well.”

“It’s hard to imagine that anyone could break through Royce’s shell,” King Alric said.