Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Thankfully, Gustav’s mount had been tethered nearby and they didn’t waste time fleeing the area. The trio rode hard for the next hour or so, constantly checking over their shoulders, but Benoit and his lizards didn’t follow.
When they did finally stop so the horses could get a break and a drink from the stream, Gustav unleashed his fury and kicked at the dirt as he ranted. “That whoreson! He was the one behind it all.”
Avera fiddled with her locket, just as shocked. “We couldn’t have known.” Benoit had never come across as all that intelligent. Arrogant, yes. Concerned about his clothes and hair, totally. But someone capable of sadistically planning murder? She’d have never guessed.
“But that’s just it, I should have seen it. I wonder if your mother suspected his ambition. If that was why she turned cold on him.”
“Wouldn’t she have told you?” Avera asked, glancing at Gustav.
“If she had I’d have done something about it. Never did like that prick.”
Avera eyed her battered rook and frowned. “We need to treat your injuries.”
“Bah, it’s just scratches!”
“That can get infected,” chided his sister. “Sit down and let me tend you.”
A grumbling Gustav sat on a stone by the creek’s edge. “Benoit knew about our trap and ambushed us.”
“He was also behind the snake attack,” Avera stated. “I guess I should count myself lucky he didn’t use the lizard statues that first night or things might have turned out differently.” Their hard carapaces had proven difficult to penetrate.
“Where did he get the funds? That’s what I want to know. The man squandered every penny of his allowance. His family, while well-off, was loyal to the crown. I can’t see them just handing their wealth over,” Gustav said.
“He did have Duke Petturi and Admiral Venne,” Avera reminded.
“And more, I would guess. Greedy bastards seduced by the thought of increasing their power and prestige.” Gustav grimaced as his sister wiped at the bloody scratch across the back of his hand.
“I thought the lords and ladies were happy with my mother’s rule,” Avera stated, somewhat confused.
“So did I.” Gustav sighed and slumped.
Josslyn tore a strip from her petticoat before murmuring, “I wonder if he’s getting financial aid and even advice from that master Benoit and Venne spoke about in the cellar.”
“What master?” Gustav’s head shot up. “Why am I just hearing of this?”
“It was only a short mention. Something about paving a way for his master’s return.” Avera shrugged. “I can’t imagine who they spoke of.”
“Meaning there is someone above Benoit and his delusions of grandeur.” Gustav appeared pensive.
“Who would have that kind of wealth and influence in Daerva?” Josslyn’s face creased.
“No one,” Gustav replied. “This master of his must be from another continent. But which one? We’re at peace with all of them.”
“Not exactly peace. Our ships have had issues with the Okkiliamian marauders,” Josslyn reminded.
“We’ve been having those skirmishes for centuries. Why would they escalate? And why would they want Benoit in power? What advantage does he give?”
“As king, he could forge new treaties.” Avera tried to find a reason and came up with only that weak excuse.
“Treaty for what? We already have a strong trade. As to conquering Daerva, if we closed off the ports, they’d be hard-pressed to land an army.”
“There’s so much we don’t know, but I think more pressing is, what are we supposed to do now?” Avera asked. “Do we return to the palace?”
“No,” Josslyn stated emphatically. “Benoit has seeded some ugly rumors. Chances are you’d be arrested on sight.”
“I could plead my innocence. Tell them the truth.”
“Do you really think you’d live that long?” was Josslyn’s harsh rebuke.
Avera kicked at her skirts as she paced. “Then what? Do I just let Benoit have the throne?”
“Depends, are you willing to fight for it?” Josslyn queried.
“A part of me says let him have it, but another part—” Avera clenched her fists as she spat— “wants to hang him from the ramparts after I’ve stripped the skin from his body.”
Gustav chuckled. “I like the latter plan. However, the reality is we might need an army to oust him.”
“How am I supposed to gather one? He’s got me labelled as a murderer, a traitor. Once word gets around Daerva, I’ll be hard-pressed to ask for a bed for the night, let alone sons and daughters to fight for me.”
“Who says the army has to come from Daerva?” Josslyn finished tying off a bandage around Gustav’s arm.
“Where else?”
“We do have allies on other continents.”
“Who might not want to get involved in an internal war. And what could I even offer in return? Not to mention, how would it look if I attacked my people with a foreign army?”
“The queen has a point. I doubt Merisu or Pequilh will render aid, not until they see what Benoit does next,” Gustav commented. “But the same can’t be said for mercenaries.”
“Hire cutthroats?” Josslyn scoffed.
“With what funds?” Avera added. “They won’t work for free.”
“Which is a problem,” Gustav admitted.
Clutching the locket once more, Avera murmured, “Part of my mother’s final instructions to me stated I must journey to Fraegus Spire.
That things would be revealed that I needed to know to rule.
” While her mother had claimed the pilgrimage was a secret, Gustav knew about it as he’d accompanied the former queen.
Given circumstances, Avera saw no reason to keep the information from Josslyn whom she already trusted.
“What is that cold mountain supposed to reveal that’s so important?” Josslyn asked, standing and shaking out her skirts.
“She didn’t say, but she stressed the importance.”
The reply pursed Josslyn’s lips. “I don’t see how visiting a cold and rocky mountain that is deadly to people will help our situation.”
To Avera’s surprise, Gustav rumbled, “I think she should go.”
“Really?” Avera couldn’t contain the exclamation.
“At this point, you’re a queen without a throne. A wanted criminal who will die if captured. You have no allies but me.”
“And me!” Josslyn piped up.
Gustav continued. “We need an advantage, something Benoit can’t predict or counter. Perhaps you’ll find it at the spire.”
“You went with my mother on her journey.”
“I did, and while she never told me what transpired on that mountain, she emerged changed. Sobered by something she’d seen or heard.”
“Did she ever go back?” Avera asked.
“Yes, without me.” His lips turned down. “When I was laid abed with a broken leg, she set off with a visiting dignitary from Verlora.”
“Why would she take him there?” Avera wondered.
“I don’t know, but she returned from that voyage alone and months later, you came along.” His gaze slewed to Avera.
The man who’d fathered her had visited the mountain with her mother. Why? What had they been seeking?
“I think my course is clear, then. I must go to Fraegus Spire.”
“It will be a ride of at least four days. Three, if we push hard,” Gustav stated. “If we only stop sparingly, we should reach Treble Pine before nightfall. I have a friend there who can conceal Josslyn until my return.”
“Hide me? I’m going with you,” his sister declared.
“It’s too—”
“Don’t you dare say dangerous,” Josslyn huffed.
“Or hasn’t it occurred to you that if Benoit has maligned Avera, then chances are my name has been smeared too.
I am just as likely to be arrested. And while we might be able to safely visit this town today, I imagine it won’t be long before everyone in Daerva is told to take us into custody or even kill us on sight. I might as well be with you.”
“I’m sorry,” Avera stated softly. “When I made you duchess, I never expected any of this to happen.”
“This isn’t your fault and together we will fix this,” Josslyn declared. “After all, we are friends.”
“We are?”
“Yes. We might have just met but you and I are kindred spirits. Both championing for change. Both strong-willed women, unafraid to wield power. But for good, not evil, like Benoit and his cronies.”
“You make him sound like a villain in a children’s tale.”
“Because he is a villain of the worst kind, and we shall be the heroes that vanquish him,” Josslyn hotly declared.
Avera wanted to scoff. How could she, an old rook, and his vivacious sister prevail?
The answer was quite simply because they had no other choice.
They continued riding, faster than they would normally travel, with Gustav constantly watching over his shoulder. As they neared the edge of the woods and the town beyond it, he slowed their pace.
“I’m going ahead to see if we have anything to worry about,” he stated.
“In other words, going to sacrifice yourself,” was Josslyn’s tart reply.
“We don’t know if Benoit laid a second trap in case the first failed,” he pointed out.
“Why not bypass the town entirely?” While Avera would dearly love a warm meal and a soft bed, she didn’t want Gustav in danger, either.
“Because we need more than just the clothes on our back. We have no food, nothing warm for when night falls and things get chilly.”
“There are berries and I’m sure you know how to snare a rabbit we can spit over a fire which will keep us toasty.” Josslyn had a ready solution.
“Or I could see if my friend will accommodate us quietly and outfit us before we set out in the morning.”
“You trust this person?” Avera questioned.
Gustav nodded. “Harry is a good man. We trained together, but rather than take the soldier’s path, he chose to marry and run the family business. He’s in the lumber trade.”
“And when was the last time you saw him?” Josslyn asked.
The inquiry brought a crease to Gustav’s brows. “A few years. Hard to remember. I don’t often have cause to come this way and Harry rarely visits the capital.”
“We will go see this friend together,” Avera stated.
“But—”
She shook her head and cut him off. “I think it’s best if we stay together.”
“Fine.” Gustav’s curt reply was followed with a muttered, “Bossy women.”