Chapter Six
PERHAPS I WAS THINKING FANCIFULLY, but as we hurried to the king’s solar, I could feel thick tension lying low on the castle floors, like a fog that carried a plague.
Two royal guards, older men, men that I knew fairly well, nodded at me as we entered the royal private chambers. They gave Teryn a dark look.
“He is with me at the bidding of the king,” I announced, noting the slight brightening of the sky through one of many arrow loops in the wall.
I feared it would be many days before I could sleep well.
Not until the heirs to the throne were safely back in their nursery, and the Sandrayans within Avolire had been cleared of suspicion.
Or at least one in particular. That was petty of me.
I would chastise myself for my weaknesses concerning the noble Mahouk Nouradi later.
They hesitated. “Let us pass,” I said.
Shared looks darted between them, but they did finally step aside, one opening the door to announce us before we strode past and into the warmly decorated chamber.
Here was where the king and his family gathered away from the masses, the staff, and the pestering nattering of the head of the vills.
The room was wide, open, with a low fire in the massive stone hearth, chaises and books, a table and oil lamps, a long wooden table for eating that held all manner of untouched foods.
Over the table hung a chandelier of soft golden wood, a gift from the wardens of the woods for Aelir.
Sitting at the table were the king, still in the same robes he had worn into the sea cave, and Fylson.
Umeris, which I was pleased to see, was not present.
Not that I wished the grand advisor ill, but he had shown signs of slipping into a mental fugue that ran toward unpleasantness.
Outside the call of the peafowl that the vahasi had gifted the kingdom floated upward to break the serenity of dawn.
“If you would excuse us, I would like to speak to the ambassador for a moment?” Le’ral asked, stalling me in my tracks.
“Yes, of course.” I backed out of the room, catching the eye of my cousin as he stood in the far corner behind the king.
The door closed in my face. The wait was lengthy.
I spent it inspecting the guards as they stood at attention to keep my growing worry under some control.
Neither was found to be wanting in any way, and to be fair, their blocking us was standard procedure for the king’s chambers.
When the door opened, Rolim bid me enter with a look that I could not read.
Le’ral and Aelir watched me, faces set in stone. Teryn gave me a wavering smile. My cousin was hard to read, but I thought I picked up a note of concern in his dark eyes.
“Pasil, we have some questions,” Le’ral opened with. “Please take a seat.” He motioned to one of the dozen empty chairs. Two had thick cushions, one atop the other, for the children. My stomach clenched seeing those empty chairs.
“If you don’t mind, I would rather stand,” I replied, spreading my legs slightly as I clasped my hands behind my back.
“As you wish.” Le’ral heaved a mighty sigh.
“We have questioned Mahouk Nouradi about his whereabouts last night.” Ah, so that was the reason for the tightness around my cousin’s eyes.
“He has relayed that he and you were together in his chamber until roused by the news of the abduction of the royal twins. Is that correct, Captain?”
“It is. I was on my way to town when a missive came from the ambassador to come to his room. I met the children in the corridor, along with Guard Tezen, and was informed they had been to the kitchen for treats, for the children were upset about their missing kitten. Then I went to Teryn’s… ” Shit. “The ambassador’s suite.”
Aelir scrubbed at his face so hard it was a wonder he did not set his pale lashes aflame.
“And you remained in his room until the guards came to gather the mahouk?” Le’ral was not one to be thrown off easily. I nodded. “And neither of you left his quarters for several hours?”
“Correct, Grand Advisor, we were both in his room.” I kept my sight locked on a tapestry hanging on the far wall. It depicted a waifish lass being serenaded by a princely knight. “I would rather not delve deeper into what transpired as it is personal.”
“I think we need not dig into what you two were doing in his suite. Your testimony as to his whereabouts is strong and matches what the ambassador has entered into our inquiry. Your word is well respected, Captain.” Le’ral said no more.
I bobbed my head and went to stand with my cousin.
Rolim gave me an unsettling look that I raised a brow at but did not comment on.
Aelir, exhausted and paler than usual, pushed some hair behind an elegant, pointed ear as he watched me for a long moment before turning to the situation.
“Ravens have been sent out to the queen and my consorts in Knight’s Way,” Aelir informed us.
“I suspect the reply will be quick, and my family will return to Celear with haste. My grandfather is resting in his chambers. His mental state has slipped again after I passed along the discovery of the sea cave under the castle.” Aelir looked to Fylson and then to Teryn.
“Umeris seems to be the only one in this damn castle who had previous knowledge of the secret escape in the nursery. Why this was never mentioned to me, I do not know. When it was brought up, he became quite agitated, bellowing about how he had done what needed to be done no matter what she claimed.”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty,” Teryn whispered. “I know there is little to be done for an elderly elf who is suffering the mental deterioration of the aged, but perhaps my son—”
“Your offer is kind but seeing a dark-skinned elf would only agitate him until he returns from whatever past he seems to be visiting this day. Perhaps it is for the best. His venom for those who are not mainland-born would only add fuel to a fire that is a spark away from engulfing us all.” Aelir allowed Fylson to fill his glass with some bright pink citrus juice, a sour drink that I personally could not abide.
“Teryn, your people are in their chambers. There they shall have to stay, aside from your son, who is in the Hall of the Sanguine tending to Vilde and Tezen.” Teryn nodded silently.
“I will send Le’ral to speak to each of them in turn.
We will need to verify their whereabouts last night.
I am sorry for the improper handling of such distinguished guests.
If it helps, everyone in the castle is being questioned, from our guard captain to the ash maids who clean the chamber pots. ”
“Your Majesty, your kindness and wish to keep the lines of diplomacy open are to be commended. I, too, would question all in my keep if such a horrendous occurrence had taken place,” Teryn said, his gaze drifting to me then back to the king.
“I shall send word to each member of my entourage to cooperate fully with your advisor when he visits them. May I speak frankly about something that I discovered while in fox form?”
“Yes, please, if you think it will help.” Aelir sipped from his cup, frowned at the bite, but did not push the tart juice away.
“There were many scents in the nursery,” Teryn began, his composure to be admired given the precarious state he and his people were in.
“The nanny, the pixie, and the children were the strongest, but there were also the aromas of the people who committed this heinous crime, and those are what I wish to pass along. None were my people, but one was familiar.” We all waited as he glanced from me to my cousin to Le’ral and then, his brow furrowed, to the king.
“Your grandfather’s caregiver, Jaska, was quite strong. ”
“That is to be expected. My grandfather visits them when he is able. He loves them beyond measure.” The king seemed unhappy with the accusation about to be cast.
“Yes, of course, but his scent was on the stairwell leading down into the sea cave. On the docks as well.” Sad amber eyes locked onto the king. “I am sorry to relay that to you, my friend, but I do not see why his smell would be there if—”
Aelir went to his feet like a shot from a crossbow.
“Guard!” the king roared. The two at the door rushed in, hands on their sword hilts, eyes round.
“Find Jaska Ashwish. I want him found and confined to his chamber until Le’ral can speak with him.
” They threw a look my way. I inclined my head slightly, not that a direct order from the king needed to be approved by me.
They exited at speed, closing the door behind them. “I hope you are mistaken, Ambassador.”
“I am not,” Teryn sadly whispered. “There were four unfamiliar people in that room, three I did not know, but the smell of Jaska was strong. He carries the scent of the cobalt liniment that the healers rub into the feet of Grand Advisor Stillcloud. The smell of the blue squash leaves is strong and unmistakable. I am sorry, but he was in the nursery and traveled down the stairs within the past two suns. The trail was rich and new.” We all chewed on that vile news.
I’d not known Teryn long, but in the short time I had known him, he seemed a man of honor and honesty, even if he was a terrible rogue at times.
“Again, my apologies for the upsetting news. Treachery is always in the shadows in the halls of a ruler’s home, it seems. We have had our share on the Black Sands, to be sure.
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to—”
The rapping on the solar door startled us all. “Come!” Fylson shouted. The two guards who had been posted outside the solar hurried in, eyes round as the platters of untouched food.
“Your Majesty, Jaska Ashwish is not in his chamber nor with the grand advisor. His effects are gone, but this was found pinned to his pillow with an eating dagger coated in ichor.”