Chapter 11 #2
Erich looked to Onric in a way that told Ian he was missing something.
“It is not just that,” Onric said. “Gareth brought three companies with him.”
“Three?” Ian leaned forward, shocked. “That is twice our number both here and in the city. Where are they?” Most of the Iseldan soldiers had been sent to the shore to await the Return.
“Many of them have taken over the empty beds in the barracks, and the rest are demanding rooms in the city,” Onric replied.
“And the people?” Ian asked, stunned that such a large development could have happened in the few hours he’d been asleep.
“They are not pleased,” Ashlin said, still standing at the table but facing them now. “But Gareth is here to save them from the Majis.”
“I should have stayed awake.” Ian brought a hand to his face.
“I do not think it would have made a difference,” Onric said. “He simply moved in.”
“He is brilliant,” Ian said. “He advises us to send our entire army to a remote location, then simply brings his own into our home while we are most vulnerable.”
“Can we get rid of him diplomatically?” Ashlin asked.
Erich shook his head. “He will not leave without a fight.”
“And turning against him now will also turn everyone against us,” Onric said.
“We could arrange for an accident of some sort,” Erich said. “One in which the young king of Chendas meets his untimely death.”
“Yes,” Ian said. “But that will only solve part of the problem. We need time to sway the people’s opinion before the ‘Return of the Majis.’”
Ian used the old term for what they had all once been afraid of.
History, as they understood it, said the Majis had been exiled to the island of Istroya for one thousand seasons.
And the common belief was that when the Majis returned, they would do so with vengeance and a powerful, destructive magic.
As it was nearing the end of harvestreign—the nine hundred and ninety-ninth season since the exile—that fated “Return” was only days away.
They knew now that the Majis on Istroya were little more than slaves to the king of Chendas, and that their magic was based in harmony.
Erich took a bite out of the apple Ashlin had tossed him. The crunch sounded loudly in the quiet room.
“We do not have time,” Onric stated. “We cannot change the minds of an entire kingdom in so short a time.”
“Then we call our men to arms and publicly oust Gareth from the castle,” Erich said. “Our soldiers are far superior in strength and technique. We do not need the numbers.”
“That would mean absolute bloodshed,” Onric said. “Our men may be loyal, but we cannot ask that from them. We need more help.”
“Father sent word to Allys,” Ian said. “They are not ready to ally with us against Gareth, but perhaps we can pressure them further, send Aden and Isa to speak with them.”
Onric nodded. “That is our only hope, but I am afraid we do not have the time to let that hope play out. For now, we need to remain close to our own soldiers so that they will stand with us when the time comes.”
“We should not leave your father unattended,” Ashlin said. “In his vulnerable state, it will be too easy for Gareth to . . .”
“If Mother is not with him,” Onric said, “one of us will be. At all times.”
Ian stood. “Then this is the best we can do. I will pen another missive to Aden and Allys.” Ian moved toward the door, then stopped.
Onric, Erich, and Ashlin had remained seated. Staring at him.
“What is it?” he asked, turning around.
“If Father is in danger, so are you,” Erich said. His words were spoken to Ian, but he looked at Onric.
“You cannot remain here while Gareth is in charge of the castle,” Onric said. His face held such a confident authority that Ian sat back down.
Ashlin nodded, looking at Ian with concern, as though she anticipated the hurt he would feel at Onric’s words.
Ian looked back to Onric. His brother was right. “But at this point, I am in danger wherever I go.”
“Not if Gareth cannot find you,” Onric said.
“What are you saying?” Ian asked, knowing the answer but not wanting to admit it.
“You need to leave the castle,” Onric said, his voice even, “and go somewhere Gareth cannot find you.”
“You are saying that I should go into hiding?” Ian replied.
“If I leave now, I give Gareth even more control over this castle. That is too dangerous.” Ian stood up again.
“And now that we are done with this discussion, I am going to go execute my leadership of this castle.” He took a loud bite of his own apple.
Onric held out a placating hand. “No, we are not done with this discussion. Gareth has two soldiers present to our one. And even our one fully listens to him. Angering Gareth at this point would increase the danger you are already in. He has made two attempts on your life, Ian. There will be a third. Tonight? Tomorrow? In a sevennight? With Father unable to open his eyes, you being alive is the only hope we have.”
“Yes.” Ian almost choked as he tried to swallow the apple. “But I am not going to run off into hiding.” Onric’s words were true. Even the physicians did not know if King Frederich would survive the wound to his head.
If he did not . . . Ian had always known that his father’s crown would one day be his. But today was not that day. He was not ready for that weight. Nor would he ever run from his responsibility. Not now, nor in the future.
“This castle and everyone in it are in danger every moment that Gareth is here,” Ian said, keeping his voice calmer than he felt. “I will not abandon my family or my duty.”
Onric stood, stepping forward to stand face-to-face with Ian.
Onric had to look up into Ian’s eyes, but it had been a long time since Ian’s little brother had been scared of him.
“Actually,” Onric said, “in that, you are wrong. The safety of this castle is my responsibility, not yours. I am the captain of the castle guard, and the safety of the castle has been placed in my care as the second son of the king. You are the crown prince. Your duty is to the whole of Iseldis and all of its people and as such, your duty is to remain alive.”
Ian sat back down fully on the crate behind him, looking up at his younger brother, hating that he was right.
He set the apple down beside him, appetite completely gone.
“I will not go into hiding,” he said, quickly holding up his hand to stop Onric from talking over him.
“But I will go for help. I will travel to Allys myself and convince King August to aid us.”
“No,” Erich said, running a hand through his hair.
Ian looked to his youngest brother. It was not typical of Erich to take a serious stance when the brothers disagreed, but he was doing so now.
“Gareth surely has cyphers there,” Erich explained, “so it will be impossible for you to truly remain secret. You would not know who to trust and would be in more danger than you are here.”
“Then I will seek out that old monk we found on the shore and become a hermit,” Ian said, half angry and half in jest. The situation they were in already felt hopeless enough. Running away from it all felt worse.
“Find Robin,” Ashlin said, stepping forward to stand next to Onric. “She is already harboring Meena and Sol.”
Onric looked down at Ashlin, his face lighting up.
Ian was not sure if it was because he thought her idea was brilliant or because he merely liked having her so close.
It was probably both. Onric looked back to Ian, his face returning to that solemn authority.
“Not only will you be safe with her, but you can ask her to help us take the castle back from Gareth.”
Erich stood up, a new excitement also appearing in his eyes. “That is perfect!”
Ian shook his head. “What can Robin do against three companies of Chendas soldiers that our own men cannot?”
Three faces stared down at him.
He was missing something again.
“She is one woman with a handful of clever bandits,” Ian said, looking between them.
“Not just Robin,” Erich said. “River’s Talon.”
Ian shook his head. “Just because she has access to a secret organization which might be powerful does not mean that they will drop everything to come to our aid. Convincing King August to send his soldiers would be quicker.”
Onric’s face softened into a smile. “So Erich didn’t tell you everything.”
Ian sent a glare to Erich, who looked confused.
“Robin does not have access to River’s Talon. She is River’s Talon.”