Ginn Hale - Lord of the White Hell book Two

"I do, but before I answer your question I would have you answer one of mine."

"Of course, Your Highness."

"What did you see?" Prince Sevanyo leaned closer to Kiram and spoke in a hushed voice. "When you died, what was there?"

"It was light," Kiram responded. He could see that Prince Sevanyo wanted more then just that. "There was no pain and I wasn't afraid."

"Did you see angels or devils?" The prince gazed at Kiram intently and the afternoon light etched the deep lines of his gaunt face. "A garden of jewels and gold?"

"No, Your Highness." Kiram couldn't bring himself to lie. "There was only light and comfort. and then I think I saw Javier and he brought me back." Kiram met the prince's gaze. "Will you please tell me where he is?"

Prince Sevanyo sighed and leaned back in the simple wooden chair.

"He is presently in the room below this one, being held prisoner until the royal bishop arrives."

"But he didn't possess Fedeles-"

Prince Sevanyo rolled his eyes and raised a gloved hand against Kiram's protests. His rings gleamed in the afternoon light.

"We know that he did nothing to his cousin. The Grunito brothers, War Master Ignacio and Scholar Blasio have all testified as much. And of course Fedeles Quemanor has corroborated their stories." The prince shook his head. "It seems that my young brother, the royal bishop, was far too rash in his judgment. His imprudence nearly allowed a madman to seize control of the dukedom of Rauma as well as the white hell. And it has cost him the lives of his own men."

"But if you know that, then why is Jav-Lord Tornesal being held prisoner?" Kiram flushed at his gaffe but the prince didn't seem to care. He sighed and stretched out his long legs.

"Javier," Prince Sevanyo said, "has proclaimed himself a convert to the Bahiim religion."

Kiram winced at the idea of Javier cavalierly making such an announcement.

"Indeed." Prince Sevanyo sighed. "The royal bishop has demanded that Javier be held prisoner until he arrives here to try him for heresy."

"No." Kiram couldn't help his response.

Prince Sevanyo raised a white brow, and the gesture reminded Kiram painfully of Javier.

"The royal bishop is well within his rights, Master Kir-Zaki. At the very least he will have the pleasure of excommunicating Javier."

"But doesn't Javier deserve some lenience? He did keep Scholar Donamillo from-"

Again the prince stopped Kiram's protest with a wave of his hand.

"Javier has made the royal bishop look like a fool. Worse yet, a fraud who can't recognize a possessed man when he stands before him and who knows less of heaven's designs than a pack of schoolboys and a Haldiim mechanist." Prince Sevanyo shook his head. "Word of the bishop's folly has already spread too far for him to suppress it. Now the royal bishop can only hope that in punishing Javier he can make an example of what happens to those who would embarrass him."

"You can stop him, can't you?" Kiram couldn't help the begging tone in his voice. Prince Sevanyo shook his head.

"Javier is dear to me," the prince admitted. "But when he chose to convert he placed himself firmly in my brother's grasp and well beyond the realm of my protection. Only the king could forgive Javier and he chooses not involve himself in this matter."

Kiram bowed his head into his hands, silently cursing Javier for not having the sense to lie or at least flee. Certainly a single locked door couldn't keep Javier prisoner here. So, why stay?

"Are you strong enough to stand?" the prince asked Kiram.

Kiram looked up and met Prince Sevanyo's cool gaze, unsure as to what could have sparked this new direction of inquiry. The prince glanced to one of his pages and the boy came close.

"I think so." Kiram replied. "I feel better."

Sevanyo nodded. The page offered him a chalice of wine, which the prince took a single drink from before waving the boy aside. He returned his attention to Kiram.

"The royal bishop will be arriving here tomorrow. More than likely he will expect to interview you as well as Javier."

Sick dread clenched Kiram's chest.

"Time is short," Prince Sevanyo said quietly then he raised his voice. "It is good that you are feeling recovered, but I can see that I and all of these fine men of my father's court have kept you awake too long." The prince indicated the surrounding courtiers with a theatrical wave of his gloved hands. "You have been good enough to answer my question and I appreciate it greatly. We should leave you to your rest."

The prince's guards straightened and several of the courtiers turned their cups and dishes over to servants, making ready to depart with the prince. Kiram wondered briefly at how strange it would be to live constantly surrounded by so many other people.

Then Prince Sevanyo surprised him by grasping his hand suddenly.

"Before I go, let us both pray that Javier sees the error of his ways," the prince told him. Something hard slipped from the prince's glove and pressed into Kiram's palm. "Let us hope that down in the room directly below this one, he feels our ardent prayer and comes to his senses."

Kiram nodded. He remained still and silent while the prince bowed his head. Then Prince Sevanyo stood and Kiram closed his hand around the key the prince had slipped to him.

"Take care," Prince Sevanyo told Kiram.

Then he left and the crowd of guards, servants and nobles trailed out after him. For a few minutes Kiram lay still in the bed, mustering his strength and resolve. The royal bishop was on his way, and Kiram had little doubt about which door this key unlocked.

His first steps were awkward but as he moved his strength and balance returned. He packed only what he could easily carry and knew would be needed. Of Javier's things he chose the strongest of his fencing swords as well as the simplest of his clothes and all the money he could lay his hands on.

The golden glow of dusk filtered through the academy as Kiram left his room and crept down the stairs. Smokey, sweet scents of roasting meats and fresh bread wafted up to him and he guessed that most people would be gathered in the dining hall for the evening meal.

Still, Kiram had to crouch in the shadows of the staircase and wait for the night warden to pass on his patrol of the academy halls. As soon as the big man was out of sight Kiram raced to the room where Javier was being held. Cadeleonian holy symbols had been painted on the door and Kiram thought he recognized Holy Father Habalan's writing. He quickly unlocked the door and slipped inside.

Only a sliver of fading sunlight illuminated the barren room. Javier looked up immediately.

Kiram almost cried out at the sight of him. His arms and legs were bound with heavy shackles and he still wore the filthy, bloodstained clothes that he'd been dressed in the night they fought Donamillo. At least a week had passed since he'd last shaved or probably bathed. And yet he still stood straight and proud. He met Kiram's gaze with a quick smile.

"Tell me you brought soap and I'm yours forever," Javier said.

"I brought your sword, a change of clothes, and a key to the door." Kiram forced himself to return Javier's smile, though it made his heart ache seeing Javier like this.

"Better still," Javier replied.

Kiram brought the pack but Javier simply caught him in an awkward embrace of lean muscle and chains. Kiram grasped him in return. They held each other for no more than a moment, but relief and longing made it feel almost endless and unbreakable.

"I missed you so much," Kiram whispered.

"I'm just glad you're all right," Javier murmured in nearly the same breath. "They wouldn't tell me what had happened to you. Only that you were fevered. I feared-" His voice caught, almost breaking on the emotion beneath the simple words. "You can't know how good it is to see you."