Chapter 30 – Vale
Chapter 30
VALE
M y band of soldiers returned to Frostveil Castle with the rebels in tow, and I led them down to the western dungeons. Though I should have been proud that we’d captured so many rebels, my mind wasn’t in the moment but consumed by the memory of the vampire.
Right after seeing him, before searching the city high and low for more of his magical order, I’d sent a missive to the Clawsguard watching the door to my suite. The reply had come quickly, and the guard had assured me that all was quiet in the palace.
Neve was safe.
For now.
I needed to speak with Father about increasing her guard, and of the drained bodies we’d found in the city.
First, though, the rebels.
I descended the stone steps into the dank dungeon. Behind me, footsteps echoed in the low-ceiling tunnel. Some rebels fought—probably the mouthy young male among them—but mostly they appeared resigned to their fate.
When I reached the bottom of the steps, I discovered we weren’t the first troop of soldiers to return. A dozen other rebels glared at me from behind bars, but they weren’t alone in the dungeon cells.
From behind bars, actors from the Royal Theater stared back at me. Avalina Truso, the best-known actress in the kingdom, being one of them.
Someone had thrown her in one of the first cells closest to the stairs. From the moment we locked eyes, she looked daggers at me, her fine-boned hands clenched at her sides, trembling from the cold of the dungeons, which was even worse than outside.
Saga and Mother would be disappointed to learn she was down here, but perhaps Avalina deserved this fate. Her song indicated rebel proclivities, but the others?
I walked down the aisle, my heart sinking deeper with each step. The rebels were being held on the right, the actors on the left. A quick count told me that thirty other actors were imprisoned. I didn’t believe for a second that they’d all known the theater was going to be used for a rebel attack.
“Why are they here?” I asked the guard on duty, gesturing to the cell of actors and actresses.
“King Magnus said to bring ’em here, I guess?” the guard replied. “That’s what the soldiers who brought ’em in said.”
Why didn’t he mention this to me ?
“Have we questioned them?”
“A few.”
“And?”
The guard shrugged. “They’re still locked up. I didn’t do the questioning, my prince.”
“Lock up the rebels,” I instructed those following me . Determined to take matters into my own hands, I approached a cell containing three adult male actors, one faerie, one brownie, and one dwarf. I didn’t remember them on stage. Maybe they’d been in one of the chaotic group scenes.
“You were in the play The White Bear’s Rebellion ?”
“We were, my prince.” The brownie bowed his head and his mop of long dark hair flopped forward, covering his face. He wore a thin house coat and shivered as violently as Avalina. The rest looked much the same, in night clothes or house coats. It seemed that none of them had been allowed to dress for the dungeons when soldiers pulled them from their homes.
“Have you been with the Royal Company long?”
The brownie nodded. “Five turns for me.” He pointed to the faerie wearing loose pants and a robe only fit for lounging in one’s house. “Sven joined at about the same time.”
“I’ve been there for a season,” the dwarf replied, his voice deep and raspy.
“You’re ingrained in that culture.”
The brownie’s hairy cheeks blossomed red, likely anticipating where I was going.
“Were you aware of the rebels plan to attack the night of the production?” I asked outright. “Had there been rumors among the company? Were they helping the rebels?”
“I didn’t know,” the faerie, Sven, piped up for the first time. “And I’ve got a family and four mouths to feed. Had I heard, I would have quit.”
“Not told the authorities?”
“That too,” Sven said, though I didn’t quite believe that part. Now , he would have told someone, but back then? Questionable.
The brownie and the dwarf also claimed that they hadn’t known about the rebellion. As Liar’s Salvation wasn’t cheap and was extremely hard to come by, I felt certain that they told the truth.
I moved down the line of cells, asking others. The vast majority hadn’t been informed about the attack. Only a few admitted they had helped the rebels. They didn’t appear to regret their choice.
I didn’t ask them all, but enough to know that most of the imprisoned didn’t deserve to be in our dungeons. An issue that had to be remedied.
As I passed by Avalina Truso’s cell, she leaned closer. “Aren’t you going to ask if I knew?”
“It seems clear to me that you did.” I paused. “But for the sake of fairness, did you help the rebels?”
A slow, controlled smile spread across her face.
“I did, my prince. I was the mastermind behind the attack, the production, the final scene that told the truth of the White Bear’s Rebellion. And I shouldn’t have stopped there. ”
“What more could you have portrayed?” I retorted; my throat tight at her smug expression.
She let out a laugh. “So much, my prince. You’re too young to know all that happened, but scandal abounds in the Court of Winter. It always has.” She arched an eyebrow. “And your family has been at the rotten heart of the most salacious scandals for so very long.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believe you should ask Queen Inga that question.” She looked down at her nails, some of them broken and ragged. “I have to say, to play your mother is a dream role. Such a complicated female.”
I stared at her, unsure of what to say until I decided to say nothing. I turned away from the actress and left the dungeons in search of the king.
I found my father in his personal library, a goblet of wine in his hand. Mother was there too, the pair seemingly deep in conversation, a rarity. In public, the royal pair presented a united front. In private, they were rarely together—not unless they were scheming.
“Mother. Father.” I approached the pair but stayed standing.
Mother smiled at me, and Avalina’s words rang in my mind. I pushed them back. This was no time for rebel nonsense.
“How many did you find?” Father asked, his eyes leveling me as Mother shifted to give me her full attention .
“Eleven.” Of the group of rebels we’d found, only two got away.
I repressed a shudder as I recalled the black-haired female running, how she’d leapt into the air and how I’d been about to follow. That was until a vampire walked in front of me.
“There are more,” Father growled. “At least fifty were in the theater.”
“That’s not counting the ones who burst through the dome,” Mother added.
“The other search parties found quite a lot of them too. And some bands of soldiers have not returned yet.”
My father snorted. “It’s not enough. Search teams will continue night and day. No one will come in and out of the city. Nor sail from Avaldenn. It will remain this way until I’m sure we’ve caught them all .”
My mouth dropped open. To halt movement in and out of the city for a day was a big deal. To do so indefinitely? Madness.
“Father, I?—”
“You will not sway me, Vale,” my father said.
The hard lines on his face said as much, and as much as I wanted to argue, I saw the wisdom in moving on. I had other battles to fight, two I might fix now. Besides, if this embargo went on for too long, he’d see how foolish it was and call it off.
“There are other matters I’d like to address.”
Father inclined his head, and Mother set her drink down. I had their full attention.
“There are actors and actresses in the dungeon. Some are guilty and should be there, but many are not. We should release the ones who are innocent.”
“ Absolutely not ,” Father scoffed.
My jaw tightened. “Why not?”
“I’ll be frank, Vale. I care not if they’re guilty or innocent. They were there , and I will keep them until I see fit to release them. In doing so, others will think twice about working with the rebels in the future.” He took a drink of wine, his face reddening with the annoyance I’d stoked.
“This is a bad idea, Father.”
“When you rule a kingdom, then you can make the calls,” Father replied. “Until then, you do as I say. Your role is to control the army. And to always bring honor to our family, which sometimes means reminding others of how powerful we are.” He looked at Mother for support, but she said nothing.
Avalina’s words came back to me. I was sure Mother and Father had secrets. What married couples didn’t?
But why would an actress know of them? Or think she did?
“It’s wrong,” I said. “You might cause more ire than inspire loyalty.”
“I will demand loyalty.”
Stars, he was the most stubborn arse I’d ever known. I’d get nowhere with this issue when he was like this. Perhaps instead I’d recruit the cabal to free the innocent actors, or, more accurately, the members who weren’t stuck in the healers’ sanctuary. I’d speak with Sian about it later.
Loosing a sigh, I moved on to the topic that had consumed so many of my thoughts since I’d seen the vampire. How to protect my wife.
“I have one other matter to discuss,” I said.
Father chuckled humorlessly. “Out with it then, son.”
“I spotted a vampire in the city. Assassins who have come for Neve. They have already attacked and drained many fae in Rall Row. I request more guards around her at all times. At my door. At the base of my tower. Wherever she is, I want them there.”
Father arched an eyebrow. “They’re busy at the moment, rounding up rebel scum.”
My fists balled up. “We can spare a half dozen.”
“You can’t be sure the vampires are assassins.”
My mouth opened, then closed before opening again. “He wore the thorn-choked rose of the Red Assassins on his breast.”
“Until I hear from Lord Armenil, I’m not inclined to assume that the vampires will attack someone of my house.” Father paused and sipped his wine. “Not to mention the castle is crawling with soldiers already, Vale. Your request is unreasonable.”
Did he hear what he was saying? Was he even going to acknowledge the deaths in Rall Row?
“You think wanting soldiers around my wife until we’ve learned who the vampire was, and if there are more, is unreasonable? What of everything you’ve said today? What of your inability, no, your disregard, for protecting your people? For doing what is right!”
Father shot to his feet, his ice-blue wings fanning out in irritation. “Do not speak to me about what is right. Do not dare to question what I do for our House. For this family. ”
“Neve is your family,” I growled, then, realizing I could go at this from another angle, I tried again. “She may carry the next Aaberg prince or princess.”
The spark of hope that flared in my chest at my own words surprised me. Neve and I had been intimate, but had not had sex. And we certainly had not dared to speak of younglings. Our marriage had been a farce, temporary from the start.
And yet, the idea of younglings with her eyes and my dark hair set my pulse thrumming.
“She might,” Father agreed. “But there is no proof of that, and if there ever is, then we will take better care of your princess.” He waved his hand. “Now, leave. I must speak with your mother.”
The words he didn’t say rang more loudly in my ears than the ones he uttered. Father would protect Neve in public. However, if a vampire assassin slipped through the castle gates and took her life, he would not be fussed.
Only Mother’s slight moment, a small shake of her head, stopped me from fighting on.
She was right. I’d known it from the start and yet somehow, I’d deluded myself in the last few days into thinking I could reason with Father.
I’d been wrong.
He loved me. Loved all his children, and though I didn’t believe he loved Mother, he did respect his wife for her vast power and status .
But Neve, even while she bore his name, was still his enemy. He didn’t care if they killed her.
I couldn’t forget that again.
“I’ll take my leave then.” I spun on my heel, and before Father or Mother could say a thing, burst out of the room.
He’d always been willing to hurt others to achieve his ends, always been brutal in his retribution, and I hated that about him. Hated how I had to reconcile the father I knew with the king who would burn entire cities—and had—to get what he wanted. His rebellion had proven as much.
But this time he’d gone too far by neglecting the female I loved.
Yes, loved.
I could no longer deny the fact. Or tell myself I only wanted her body or adored her spark. One didn’t experience the fury pulsing through my blood for anything other than love.
I sighed, my emotions a ball of blackness rolling through me, and rounded a corner, only to find Lord Riis striding toward me.
He waved. “Prince Vale, a moment?”
“I’m in a bit of a hurry.” I should have already stopped by my suite, should have told Neve what I’d seen in the city.
“I’ll be brief.” Lord Riis stopped in front of me. “How is Princess Neve? After the attack?”
“She’s fine. Shaken, but alive.” My throat tightened up as I recalled how close she’d been to dying. “Thanks to you. I’m sorry I didn’t say that sooner.”
Leyv placed a hand over his heart. “I’d do it again.”
That was more than I could say for my father. My brother too. Possibly even my mother. It hurt that the only person in my family who cared for Neve, besides me, was Saga.
Lord Riis might have secrets. He might have even had an affair with my mother, and perhaps they were still carrying on. At first, that idea had shocked me, but now that I’d had time to calm down, I wasn’t sure I cared.
They’d been friends since they were younglings, and my father didn’t love my mother. Respected her power, yes. Feared her. If he was smart, he would. Admired her bloodline—of course.
Love? If they’d ever had that, it had died long ago.
However, Mother had affection for Lord Riis. Because of this, I didn’t think she knew that Father suspected her childhood friend of holding the Ice Scepter.
But I did. And Lord Riis had not only asked after Neve’s health but also protected me and my wife. I was in a great debt to him and, seeing as my father’s suspicion regarding the Lord of Tongues was ludicrous, it was time I returned the favor.
“I have to tell you something, Leyv.”
The seriousness in my tone got his attention right away. “Yes?”
“I must swear you to secrecy before telling you. The only people you can inform are Luccan, Arie, and Thantrel, and only if it seems they’re in trouble. ”
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if my friends were hurt because of my father’s delusions.
“Very well.”
“The Courting Festival was not called only so that the king could create alliances to benefit his house.”
“I assumed it was to force you and Prince Rhistel into marriage,” the Lord of Tongues quipped. “That’s not correct?”
“I can’t say that it wasn’t on Father’s mind,” I groused. “But there’s a stronger reason behind the Festival.” A quick glance around assured me that no one was approaching. “Many have speculated about this in the past, but I can confirm that the Ice Scepter has been lost since the time of the Falk reign, hence the increase in storms and the fall in temperature.” I paused, thinking about the blight that affected the health of so many fae, but chose not to add that. It was only a theory, not proven that the blight was connected to the disappearance of the Ice Scepter. “Father has recently learned that a noble house stole it.”
Lord Riis blinked. “Well, people have wondered why we haven’t seen the Scepter. Why, like so many other Falk items, the king hasn’t retrieved it from the royal vaults and carried it on formal occasions. Or when he blesses the Crown Drassil.”
Which Father did four times a turn, two more times a turn than his predecessor King Harald Falk. It had always been a source of pride for my father. I could not deny the other points. Father didn’t venture into the royal vaults for the Scepter because it was not there. Just as many other Falk items had gone missing.
“Did King Harald use it when he blessed the Crown Drassil?” I’d been too young to pay attention to the actions of the previous king and queen.
“Not always, but if Winter was getting out of hand”—he arched his eyebrows—“like it has been, he brought the Ice Scepter out. The Crown Drassil, any Drassil tree really, needs to be fed magic—a tribute if you will—and the Ice Scepter is a powerful magical object.”
“So it keeps the magic of the land under control not only in the hands of the ruler but by using the Drassil’s connection to the land? They’re all three connected?”
“Or perhaps the Cruel King liked how it looked.” Lord Riis shrugged and gave a half smile, perhaps to lighten the tension rolling off of me. “I spoke more with Queen Revna than her husband. Besides, what has this got to do with me?”
“The king suspects you might have it.”
The spymaster paled. “I’m not from a noble bloodline. I have not a drop of winter magic.”
“That’s why I don’t agree with him, which I have said to him. He, however, thinks that the increase in Luccan’s magic is suspicious.”
“He has grown stronger since he started making gateways.” Lord Riis swallowed. “This is my fault. I asked him to create ones connecting our properties, for safety.”
“Yes, well, I thought you should know. To protect yourself. And the knowledge might help you and your spies in finding a real suspect now that you fully understand what you’re looking for.”
“Thank you, Vale,” Lord Riis whispered. “I can see that this has cost you.”
I’d promised Father, Mother, and Rhistel that I wouldn’t tell anyone else about this. And now I’d broken that promise. Twice.
I’d broken my honor.
“It’s the right thing to do. I owe you for saving Neve. For masterminding how to protect her as best as anyone could. I should be thanking you, Leyv.”
Lord Riis opened his arms and embraced me.
I stiffened, unused to such closeness if it didn’t come from Neve, Saga, or my best friends. Lord Riis hadn’t hugged me in many, many turns.
But he once had. Once, I called him uncle. Once, he’d brought me gifts, and I’d loved practicing swords with him.
“Thank you,” Lord Riis said, still embracing me. “Thank you, Vale.”
“Of course,” I murmured as we broke apart. “You’ve always had a place in my heart and Luccan, Thantrel—even Arie—are some of my closest friends.”
The sadness in the Lord of Tongues’s eyes lifted a touch. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.” His hand, large and rough, clapped on my shoulder, squeezed. “I believe you have a wife you need to be getting back to?”
“I do,” I said, relieved for an out to distance myself from the cloud of emotions rolling between us. “Good day, Leyv.”
We parted, though I still felt the spymaster’s eyes on me until I turned the corner.
I was at the door to my suite before I knew it, so great was the depth of my thoughts. The Clawsguard on duty opened the door for me.
“Welcome back, my prince. I’m sure the princess will be happy to see you.”
I nodded, slipped inside, and inhaled. The room smelled like smoked vanilla. Like Neve.
“I’m back,” I called out, half hoping she’d respond from the bathroom, and I’d find her waiting for me in the tub again, violet eyes calling me closer.
But there was no response. Only silence.
In his letter, the Clawsguard at the door had assured me that Neve had not left our suite. Was she asleep?
“Neve?” I asked, more softly, in case she slumbered.
Still no reply, but when I ambled down the short corridor that opened into my bedroom, she was there, sitting on the bed, staring out the window at the falling snow.
“Neve? Are you well?” I approached the bed and sat near her feet.
My weight pried her from a trance. She turned, looked at me, and swallowed.
“No.”
“You’ve fallen ill?”
She’d been fine that morning. More than fine. Neve had been happy, but the female before me appeared anything but.
“I think so.” She looked at her hands.
Something in her voice hinted that she wasn’t telling the entire truth.
“Did something happen?”
“Nothing.”
“All right . . . Well, we found many rebels,” I said, hoping to engage her.
She said nothing. No matter how sick she felt, I had news. So I told her about the house in Rall Row, the infiltration, and chasing the black-haired faerie. That captured her attention, albeit briefly. Then she continued to stare at her hands.
“I lost the rebel when I saw a vampire.”
Neve didn’t look up. She didn’t blink. It was as if she’d gone as cold as ice.
“They managed the journey quickly.” Her voice trembled as she spoke.
“The question is how,” I said.
She didn’t reply.
Flummoxed and hoping to pull her from her idleness, I plowed onward, telling her how the white-haired vampire had appeared before me and then disappeared as if he were playing a game. Then I told her about how we’d taken the rebels to the dungeons. How I’d seen the actors there.
At the mention of the performers, her eyes filled with tears that she wiped away .
When I finished, including my time with my father and Lord Riis, Neve let out a long sigh.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.” I swallowed. “Can I get you anything, Neve? A tea? A tonic? I’ve never seen you like this.”
“No, I feel fine, but off.”
What did that mean?
“Do you want to get out of the suite?” I asked. “Take a walk around the castle? Perhaps we should visit the smithy, Master Urgi, and have a sword made for you. In case the worst happens.”
Neve’s eyes closed. “No. Please, Vale. I want to be left alone.”
Then, before I uttered another word, she lay down and turned her back to me.
I swallowed, watching her for a moment before I stood and went to the bathroom. Once alone, I placed my hands on the sides of the sink and looked in the mirror.
Something was wrong with Neve, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d upset her. Or did she regret what we’d done? How close we were getting? That if we grew closer, it would jeopardize her desire to leave.
My heart ached because I regretted nothing of the sort.