“They’re in the Conclave Hall,” Torval said. “Mariana and I felt they’d be safest there.”
“Since we’re all here, we’d better discuss them. Did she tell you anything about what’s in them?”
Torval shook his head. “She said only that you asked me to secure them for you.”
“I see,” Gavin said, nodding. “Well, it’s not good.” He turned back to his friends. “I will consider your request and investigate whether I can do it…legally within the Code. If I can, I will. I will teach you what Marcus taught me, but first, we have a far more serious situation developing.”
Chapter 43
Following Gavin’s departure, Kiri puttered around the suite until the time came for her studies with Declan. She left the suite and headed to the arena, looking forward to the coming session. Declan embarrassed her less often with each passing session, but he always seemed to have some trick up his sleeve that allowed him to pass her guard with ease.
That session, however, Kiri might as well have been a fresh student, given the number of mistakes she made, and it wasn’t more than handful of minutes that Declan stopped the session and stepped back.
“Your mind is not on the moment,” Declan said. “Something troubles you?”
For a time, Kiri held her tongue, saying at last, “Do you know who I was?”
“I know who you are, Princess,” Declan said, smiling. “I recognized you the day Marcus introduced us.”
“I’ve never asked why the world-famous bard, Declan the Dandy, is acting as an aide and arms instructor. Believe me…I want to.”
Silence ruled the space for a time until Kiri broke it again.
“Does the phrase ‘Slave Queen of Vushaar’ mean anything to you?”
“It does.”
“Good. I want you to train me. Teach me what I need to know to be the Slave Queen of Vushaar.”
Declan nodded once, saying, “I can do that, but if you know of the prophecy regarding the Slave Queen, you should also know that’s only one possible outcome.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“The set of prophecies surrounding the Slave Queen is one path of a forked prophecy. There is an equal possibility that it won’t come true.”
Kiri frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Good. We try to keep it that way…Skuv Ir Nathene, I mean. Forked prophecies are fiendish to decipher. The base form is either ‘a’ happens or ‘b’ happens, and in this case, the text is over three thousand years old and so cryptic the ravings of a madman seem clear in comparison.”
“What can you tell me about the other path?”
“The Slave Queen only rises if the broken Arrow fails to fly.”
Kiri blinked. “But…but that’s gibberish. How can a broken arrow fly?”
“And that’s the most sensible part, with a little translation. Language has changed a bit in three thousand years. If you want to proceed with the training, I can work up a curriculum.”
“I’m not sure I want to trust the fate of my country to a broken arrow flying…whatever that means. I would like to proceed.”
Declan nodded. “Very well. If it does come to pass that you become the Slave Queen of Vushaar, that means Ivarson will succeed in his rebellion, and you’ll be fighting a guerilla war.” Declan closed his eyes and pointed his face toward the cavern’s ceiling. “That means you’ll need to understand small- and medium-unit tactics, logistics, basic military strategy, not to mention personal combat…” Declan’s voice trailed off, and he opened his eyes, looking at Kiri once more. “That’s all I can think of for now, but I’m sure I’ll think of more. I’ll start working up a curriculum. I won’t be able to teach you all of this myself, you understand, but I have a vast network of associates from which to draw. Give me a couple days to get everything in motion, and we’ll expand our training sessions.”
Kiri nodded. “I’m not comfortable with this idea at all. I don’t want my father to die or lose the war…but I feel I have to be prepared in case the worst happens.”
“Indeed,” Declan said. “Hope for the best while you prepare for the worst. As long as you follow that, very little will catch you flat-footed.”
Silence dominated the arena for several moments as Kiri stared off at something only she could see. Declan stood, waiting for her to return to the moment.
At long last, Kiri directed her attention back to Declan. “How would you rate my skills?”
“When you’re focused on the moment and not…other things…you’re above average. You’re nimble and quick. You have a subtle mind, and I’ve seen you come up with variations of maneuvers that others more experienced than you struggle with. I would trust you at my back in a fight.”
“Can you get me armor? I can’t have my left shoulder covered, because of the brand, but I want some armor.”
Declan frowned. “Why do you need armor?”
Kiri stared at the mixture of sawdust and dirt that covered the floor, saying, “I can’t shake the feeling there’s going to be a battle over what Mariana discovered at Vischaene Vineyard, and I just know Gavin will insist on being out in front, leading those who oppose the traitors. I’m going to be there with him, Declan, but to do that, I’ll need armor.”
“You’ll need more than armor. Isn’t it a capital crime for a slave to possess a blade?”
Kiri shrugged. “I don’t care. I’ll risk it. I can’t stand the thought of sitting cooped up in the suite, while Gavin and Lillian and the others go off to a fight they might not come back from.”
“If the wrong person sees you with a blade, you might not make it…even if we win.”
“And just how do you think Gavin would react to someone trying to haul me off to face the King’s justice?”
Declan shrugged. “Honestly, I see it ranging from polite refusal to…well…impolite refusal, depending on the circumstances at hand.”
“Exactly. So, will you get me some armor and kit?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter 44
Torval and Gavin led the group into the Conclave Hall, and Gavin saw the strongboxes sitting on a table along the wall to the right of the door. He gestured for Mariana to unlock them and turned to the group, indicating for Braden to close the doors.
“I accepted when Mariana volunteered herself and several of her colleagues in the Battle-mages to serve as my agents, and as part of her inspection of the Vischaene Vineyards, she discovered something alarming. We gathered the evidence we are about to show you and intended to present it to Valera before I violated the Compact of Dakkor.”
“Evidence?” Lyssa asked. “Evidence of what?”
“See for yourself, Mother,” Mariana said as she indicated the now-open strongboxes.
Lyssa pivoted and strode to the table. She moved from strongbox to strongbox, scanning their contents, and Gavin knew when she arrived at the final one. It held the most shocking evidence of all.
“Those bastards,” Lyssa hissed.
“Lyssa?” Sypara asked. “What’s wrong?”
Lyssa turned to face the group. Gavin expected her to be shocked, but she was not. She was angry.
“You should have let us take over,” Lyssa said, glaring at Gavin. “The Council is far too incompetent to answer this threat.”
“Lyssa, what’s wrong?” Carth asked.
“The king appears to have sponsored a plot for his old friend, Iosen Sivas, to collect like-minded souls and overthrow the Council and Society. They’re gathering troops in the hinterlands of my province. It’s all there.”