Chapter Eighteen - Thorns & Shadows
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Thorns & Shadows
HER FATHER.
HER father had taught Dorian’s mother magic.
She looked between Margot and Hugo in disbelief and realised they were waiting for her to say something else.
“The Traitor,” she said her voice quavering.
Margot hissed through her teeth as Hugo shook his head gently.
“Not here. Not in The Veil,” he said kindly, but firmly, “I know what you might have heard on the other side of the wall, but it isn’t true.”
“Lord Valehart was a good man,” chimed in Margot, as she sat down, lifting Meredith from Hugo’s lap so he could tuck into his breakfast, “yes, there are things that he might have done that weren’t approved of by the Temples.
But he wanted to root out the corruption that had set in the kingdom.
To help folks like us, not just the nobles. Queen Evelaine wanted the same.”
“People say that Lord Valehart had found something, some text that the Temples did not approve of,” said Hugo, a mouth full of egg, “He shared it with Queen Evelaine and after that they worked together to convince the king to stamp out the rot in the kingdom.”
Was this why he made so many frequent trips to Aurelmere?
She had always assumed it was to do with his work at the Baurnhof.
Was it to see the Queen, to root out this rot that Margot and Hugo spoke of?
She searched her memory for what she had seen her father work on.
She knew that he had an interest in the old gods, the ones that revolted against Liathern, the ones she had defeated.
He always said that there was another telling of that story.
Was it that? And what did that have to do with the King?
She felt dizzy and held on to the edge of the table.
With a shaking hand, she reached out for her teacup.
Her father had taught the Queen magic, just as he had taught her.
It was heresy according to the church, but her father had done it.
Why? When he had been arrested for treason, she had not believed the lies they had talked about him.
How he had sought to destroy the Baurnhof, usurp the King and steal Liathern’s Elixir.
But he had taught her magic. And now the Queen.
He was working with the Queen on what? A coup?
Her chest constricted with the thought, I didn’t know him at all. Just as I don’t know Dorian.
Hugo and Margot had continued speaking and quickly tried to focus on them, “sorry what?”
They shared a look and Margot reached forward and gave her arm a squeeze, “it’s a lot to take in, but you’ll get there.”
“I was just saying to Margot that I heard one of the Valehart’s was up at Blackthorn Hall,” said Hugo as Rosamund almost choked on the pomegranate tea.
He patted her back as she coughed, “sorry.”
“I heard it was the eldest,” whispered Margot, “some agreement with the king.”
“Janice at the bakers said it was a betrothal,” said Hugo as Rosamund sunk in her chair, wrapping her coat tighter to hide the buttons, “after Dorian saying he would never marry. He said he’d never allow his father to do that to some young woman.”
Margot’s eyes widened, “well none of them would have him, would they? He made sure of that. Poor boy,” she shook her head, “he’s a handsome lad as well, you’d think they’d see through it.”
“He’ll have done it for Roderic,” mused Hugo as he took another bite of the sausage on his fork, “that way he can make sure the last of the Valeharts are safe,” he frowned, “but why would she accept? After everything they say about him, why say yes?”
Margot considered this, “I suspect she didn’t have a choice. Say yes, and be the kings spy, or join your brothers in the tower.”
“You think she’s a spy,” gasped Hugo leaning forward.
Margot did not respond, only gave him a pointed look.
That was why he had kept her in Blackthorn Hall.
He thought she was The King’s spy. Did the King not know?
Did he not see beyond the wall of The Veil to what his son had made here?
Was that why Dorian had kept his distance from her, had kept her isolated, so that she would not tell his father?
He thought she was a spy. They all thought she was a spy.
A traitor, like my father.
Hugo put his knife and fork down on the plate and rose to his feet, holding his hands out for Meredith, “I better go, there’s a million things to be done at home,” Margot handed the little girl over and Hugo turned back to Rosamund, “it was lovely to meet you Rosie. Have a think about what I said. If you want a job, just call in at the West Mine and ask for me or Anders, we’ll see you right. ”
“Thank you,” she said, finding she did not need to force the smile, “it was lovely to meet you,” she waved a Meredith, “both of you.”
The two of them rushed off across the square, Meredith happily waving the spoon she had pilfered from the table. Margot laughed when she saw it and turned to Rosamund with a sigh, “I always lose cutlery around that child. He’s a good dad is Hugo. Anders too.”
“I saw him with two other kids earlier,” asked Rosamund, anything to distract her from her racing thoughts.
“I think they’ve got about four at the moment,” said Margot fondly, “the oldest lad works in the mines. Anders and Hugo take turns each day, one of them goes down, the other looks after the kids. For a while Anders did the bulk of it, but Hugo could see he needed a break so offered to spend more days with the kids,” Margot laughed, “it’s been an adjustment for him.
I thought his eyes were going to pop out his head when Anders mentioned adopting another. ”
Rosamund smiled, “well, it’s good he has you.”
Margot waved a hand, “ach that’s just how we are. It takes a village after all,” she looked at Rosamund out the corner of her eye, “you’ll learn that quick, Rosie. We all pitch in here. We all have each other’s back. He looks after all of us, and we look after each other.”
Picking up Hugo’s empty plate, Margot rose to her feet and looked back at Rosamund, “enjoy you’re breakfast hen.”
With that she went back into the shop.
Gnash continued to munch on his breakfast noisily as she considered everything she had learned from Hugo and Margot.
Not only that but everything that she had learned about this place.
About Dorian. Even sitting, the world felt like it was shifting beneath her feet.
Like they were resting on the edge of a snowy ledge that was about to send her cascading down a mountain.
Maybe it was too late and she was already falling.
She couldn’t even trust her own memories.
The man her father was, and the man he was here in Aurelmere.
In the Veil. It was the same with Dorian.
Two different sides to each of them. Which one was the real version?
Was her father a traitor Or a hero? Was Dorian the Prince of Death or the Prince of the People?
She was suddenly pulled from her thoughts when the object of them began to cross the square on the opposite side. Her breath caught in her throat.
Dorian.
His long black coat fanned out behind him as he strode across the paved area, three large black wolfhounds followed in his wake.
In one hand he held one of the large pastries she had seen earlier at bakery.
An auburn-haired man in miners dungarees walked alongside him, talking animatedly.
Dorian’s face was serious, listening to the man’s concerns.
They paused in their pacing, the three wolfhounds sitting as Dorian came to a stop.
As the Prince listened to the man, he ripped up the last of the pastry into three pieces and threw them to the dogs with a smile on his face.
Each of them snatched the pieces out of the air, chomping happily before resuming their sitting position.
Dorian folded his arms as the man continued.
Rosamund quickly lifted her hood as Dorian’s eyes started to scan the square, and ducked under the table, dragging a disgruntled Gnash with her.
From her new vantage point she watched as Dorian placed a gloved hand on the man’s shoulder and said something to him.
The man looked relieved and Dorian continued to cross the square.
From under the table she watched as he was waylaid at least another two times.
The first by a group of children wanting to pet the fearsome tall dogs, who panted and stood patiently as they ran their hands along the shaggy fur.
The second was by two older women who chatted amicably, and whom, though she could not hear, were chastising him about something.
He held his hands up in surrender to the ladies, a weirdly warm smile on his face and bowed to them.
The older women had giggled and allowed him to continue on.
He was close now, any closer and even under the table he would spot her. She started to think of an escape plan, and on seeing none began thinking of a plausible excuse as to why she was here.
Just as he was about to approach, Margot came sweeping out of the building, a beaming smile on her face, “Well look who it is, been a while since we’ve seen you here.”
“I was here last week.”
“Exactly, too long,” said Margot cheerfully, “what can I do you for?”
With horror, Rosamund saw him point to her table, “can I have the rest of that?”
Margot looked to the table, her eyes glancing briefly downwards to meet Rosamund’s under the tablecloth. To the older woman’s credit, she did not even flinch or hesitate as she said, “of course, let me just box it up for you.”
“No need, just the sausages please,” said Dorian and gestured to the dogs who were sniffing the ground with interest, “these three will eat me out of house and home.”