Chapter 10
Beatryce covered her mouth with the fingers of her uninjured hand. She hated how helpless she felt, again cursing her youthful decision to shun all magical training. What a fool she’d been.
Unnta positioned herself at the foot of the bed.
She looked at Dr. Lockhart and Vice-Minister Evenshade.
“The blade has pierced her through and penetrates her heart. The only way for it to be removed is to heat the blade enough to sear the edges of the wound and stop the internal bleeding. Even then, it will require a styptic salve and many delicate stitches.”
Unnta turned her attention toward Beatryce.
“Your highness, please understand that if we can accomplish this, there will still be many more days of healing to come. Removing the blade is no guarantee of anything. She might be bedbound the rest of her life. She may never return to her full strength.”
Bea nodded. Her mother would hate that. Maybe even prefer death. But they had to try, didn’t they? “How will you heat the blade?”
“It’s impossible,” Lockhart said. His gaze held derision. “What are we supposed to do? Build a fire beside her? Where? On the bed? And how would we keep from scorching her flesh?”
“It is not impossible,” Unnta said. “Not with magic.” She nodded at Evenshade. “You can do this, can’t you? You are the Minister of Magic.”
“Vice-Minister,” Evenshade muttered. “I can try.”
“Trying is not enough,” Unnta countered. “Anything less than a brief flash of searing heat and you will damage her beyond hope. Do you understand? The blade is in her heart. The heat must be fast, intense, and cooled immediately.”
“Yes,” Evenshade grumbled. “I understand I should have been given time to practice this.” He backed away from the bed. “You cannot force me to do this without allowing me the time to perfect such complicated magic.”
Bea stepped forward, closing the distance between herself and the man. “We don’t have time.”
“She’s right,” Unnta said. “This woman grows weaker with each passing hour. The magic keeping her here will not last forever.”
As much as Bea wanted her mother healed, she didn’t want to risk Evenshade making things worse. Or outright killing her mother. Then Bea would be forced to execute him. She spoke to Wyett. “Is there anyone else who might be able to do this magic?”
For a few breaths, he said nothing. Then he tipped his head toward the sitting room. “May I have a word with you alone?”
She immediately started toward the sitting room. They moved to the corner, as far away from the bedroom as they could get. “What is it?”
“The only one I believe capable enough to do what your mother requires is Nazyr, and as far as we know, he’s being held prisoner by Queen Sparrow. I believe we should petition her for his release.”
“There has to be some other way. Sparrow is the cause of all this. She will never give him back.”
“She might. We haven’t found another magician yet and even if we did, they would still be untried. If the troll’s stonecaller was still here, I’d suggest asking her. But only Dren and his guards remain from the troll delegation.”
Bea tipped her head back, frustration coloring every thought.
She was on the verge of losing control. It felt as if some kind of darkness was stirring deep within her.
She made herself breathe slower. “We don’t know for sure that Sparrow even has Nazyr.
He might have been injured out in the woods looking for those stupid mushrooms.”
“Guards were sent out, my lady. Many patrols. They were thorough. They found no sign of him.”
She ground her teeth together, so angry she could cry. “Evenshade is worthless,” she hissed.
Wyett nodded. “Unfortunately, he’s the best we have right now.”
“How is that possible in all of Malveaux?” She shook her head. “How long will Mistress Barlow stay?”
“I will ask.”
“And where is Ishmyel? He’s supposed to be finding a new magician. I’ve heard nothing from him since the proclamation I had him write was delivered to me.”
“I imagine he’s doing as you asked. Finding a new magician won’t be easy.”
“Did you tell him you’d found a healer?”
“I sent word to him about it, as you asked, but I did not speak to him myself.”
She pressed her hand to her throat, feeling her pulse beneath her fingertips. “Did my mother have this much trouble getting things accomplished?”
“At times, yes.”
“I had no idea. I never really understood all that she did.” Bea looked away, trying to regain her composure. It would be so easy to go back into that bedroom and eviscerate Evenshade. To tear him apart verbally before dismissing him on the spot.
But if she was really going to try to get Nazyr back, she needed Evenshade. At least until Ishmyel found someone to take his place.
She inhaled deeply and blew the breath out. “All right. As soon as this is concluded, I will draft a letter to Queen Sparrow.”
“Very good, your highness. Would you like me to send Chyles to you? Your mother’s scribe?”
“Yes, please. Wait. No. Is that something that you can help me with? Surely, you know more about such letters than I do. I trust you in this matter, Wyett. You want her well as much as I.”
“I can and I will take care of it as soon as I see Mistress Barlow to her accommodations.”
“Thank you.” She managed a quick smile before heading back to the bedroom.
Someone had pulled the linen sheet back over Anyka.
Beatryce faced them all. “Vice-Minister Evenshade, you have a small amount of time to practice the magic required.”
He expelled a sigh, clearly relieved.
“Mistress Barlow, I will see to it that you have whatever you need while you remain with us. I’ve already spoken to Councilor Wyett about that.
Hopefully, the Vice-Minister’s efforts will be quick.
Before any of you leave, there must be something you can do to help my mother.
More pain relief. A deepening of her slumber.
Something. I bid you do what you are able. Am I understood?”
All three nodded.
“Very good.” Bea turned and left, going straight across the hall to her apartment. She was about to let out a howl of anger when she realized she wasn’t alone. Merylynn was in the sitting room. She jumped to her feet as Bea came in.
“I found her, Bea. I found Vespera Sablewood.”
Beatryce sucked in air so quickly she almost choked on her own breath. “You’re positive it’s her?”
“Yes. My grandfather remembers her. Knows exactly where she lives. He told me. It’s not far. If we aren’t walking.”
She didn’t want anyone knowing where she was going, so a carriage was out of the question. But after tonight’s failure, Bea would do anything to help her mother. She was not missing the opportunity. “Can you ride?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go to the stables then.” She glanced down at her hand. Holding reins against that bandage would be painful.
“Right now?”
“As soon as I get a pair of gloves.” Bea called out for her maids, “Lysette, Sylvia.”
Sylvia appeared. “Lysette has taken your washing down to the laundry, my lady.”
Bea didn’t care where she’d gone. “Fetch me a pair of riding gloves.”
“Right away, my lady.” She hurried off, returning shortly with the gloves in hand. They were dark purple leather and as soft as could be.
Bea pulled them on. “Come, Merylynn. There’s no time to waste.”
As Beatryce headed for the stables, Merylynn, who was a little shorter, almost had to run to keep up.
“Bea, shouldn’t you at least tell someone you’re going out? You are the queen now, after all.”
“Not for this.”
“But what if…”
Bea glanced at her friend. “What?”
“Something changes with your mother.”
Bea stopped. She hadn’t thought of that. She was so focused on finding a way to help her mother, she hadn’t considered anything else. “I’ll send word when we get to the stables.”
As soon as she walked in, she found a stable hand. “You, there. Saddle Plum for me and find another horse for my friend.”
The young boy nodded and scurried off to do as she’d asked.
An older man came around the corner. When he saw her, he bowed. “Your highness, what an unexpected pleasure.”
“Good evening, Master Mucklow. My friend and I are going out for a ride. It’s a beautiful evening. Might as well take advantage of it.”
“Indeed. The wife and I read the proclamation. We were deeply upset to hear your mother is unwell. We send our regards.”
“I’ll let her know.”
“But our sincere congratulations to you on taking the throne. If there’s anything we can do for you or your mother, you need only ask.”
She wished it was that simple. “Very kind of you. There is one thing you could do for me now. Send word to Councilor Wyett that I’ve gone out for a ride.”
“Right away, your highness. Would you like a guard with you? I can fetch one, if you want.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She didn’t want to scare the old woman or make too much of things.
“As you wish. You be careful out there.”
She patted the dagger sheathed on her belt and smiled. “Don’t you worry.”
The stable hand returned with Plum and another horse. Mucklow checked everything over himself before leading the horses to a mounting block. Bea got up first, then Merylynn, and then they were off.
Merylynn led, since she knew where they were going. It was darker than Bea had realized, but she supposed that was a good thing. Better no one recognized her.
They traveled on, Bea getting a good look at the countryside. Since the curse had been lifted and the sun once again touched Malveaux, there were more flowers than she’d ever seen in her life. It was remarkable.
Merylynn fell back as they turned onto a different road. They were nowhere near the village, as Bea had expected. She was glad for that. They’d passed no one.
Merylynn pointed. “That’s the Sablewood house up ahead.”
Bea looked. The house was large and imposing but there was an air of decay about it. As though it had been forgotten about for some years. “It looks sad.”
Merylynn nodded. “My grandfather said she never married, never had children, never stopped wearing mourning clothes after your grandmother’s death. She’s the last of her line.”
A slow smile touched Bea’s lips. If Vespera had been that dedicated, she would want to help, wouldn’t she? It would be her best chance at being remembered. Something Beatryce would point out if she decided otherwise.