The King

'But it will take too — '

'Quiet!'

Piro hopped from foot to foot as her mother finished the letter, sealed it with wax and pressed her foenix sigil into the red blob as it set. She handed it to Seela, who bustled towards the door. The message would be sent on the next ship to Merofynia, but it would be too late to help them now.

'Don't go, Seela, this is important,' Piro warned.

The queen looked over to her. 'What's so important?'

'Father's new servant, the Ostronite Valens, is a renegade Power-worker!'

'A healer, with new ideas from Ostron Isle?' Her mother frowned. 'That would explain why Rolen prefers him over our abbey healers. I wonder if they suspect he has Affinity? He's been able to do more for Rolen than they — '

'If Valens was a healer Cobalt would have said so. Have you seen Father before Valens works on him? He looks like an old man. He can hardly move!'

The queen blanched. 'Rolen hasn't let me into his private chamber since midwinter. He's been acting so strangely I can't get near him — '

'We must expose Valens,' Seela decided. 'Send for the warders, Myrella.'

'What will I tell them?' she countered. 'They'll want to know why I suspect him of Affinity.'

'Tell them that I noticed Valens' Affinity,' Piro said. 'I'm going to have to confess my Affinity to them by spring cusp anyway.'

'You're right, Piro. I've crippled myself by hiding my true abilities for so long that I'm not thinking straight,' her mother admitted.

'You did what you had to do, Myrella.' Seela told her firmly, mouth grim. 'I'll send this message to Merofynia. Piro, you tell the warders what we suspect and send them to this chamber. Then you can fetch Valens. When he gets here Autumnwind and Springdawn will be waiting for him.'

The queen nodded. 'I fear he won't go quietly.'

'If it comes to it, we'll have to kill him,' Seela agreed, without a qualm. Piro blinked. Seela noticed and added, 'We're justified. According to the King's Law no renegade — '

'He will not thank us. Poor Rolen.' The queen shook her head. 'He's always feared Power-workers, to think — '

'And rightly so. One day he'll understand,' Seela insisted. 'Come, Piro.' She bustled towards the door and Piro hurried after her.

They parted on the main stair case. Piro went to Sylion's oratory first because, though she disliked Springdawn, she knew the nun best. She found her old tutor lighting devotional candles. Their sweet, citrus scent filled the air.

'Ah, Piro. You're worried too? Don't be. I lit a dozen candles this morning. It's past midwinter but Sylion's hold on our land is still strong. One good blizzard would cripple the advance army, then the king's men will be able to mop them up. A blizzard is all we need from Sylion.'

'I have Affinity,' Piro said. 'Father's new manservant — '

'Affinity? Nonsense,' Springdawn snapped. 'I would have sensed it.'

'I've been hiding it,' Piro explained. 'Valens — '

Springdawn caught Piro's face between her hands, fingers pressed to her temples. Pressure, worse than the worst migraine, pressed in on Piro's mind. Instinct made her retaliate, thrusting out the intrusion.

Springdawn gasped and fell back two steps. Gingerly, she lifted her fingers to her lips, blowing on them as though she'd been burnt. Her frightened eyes fixed on Piro.

'I was just in Father's chamber.' Piro would not be diverted. 'I saw Valens drawing power off him — '

'Nonsense. Your father has no power. He must have been pouring power into him,' Springdawn corrected automatically, then frowned. 'You're sure Valens was manipulating Affinity?'

Piro nodded. 'Mother wants you and Autumnwind to come to her solarium. She'll send for Valens. When he gets there you are to contain him, execute him if you have to.'

'The king — '

'Is under Valen's influence. This must be done to save him. You and Autumnwind — '

'He's useless. He exhausted himself on Cobalt. I can handle this.' Springdawn's eyes gleamed. 'Executing a renegade would bring me to the mystics mistress's notice. It would mark me as her possible successor!'

Piro wasn't interested in the nun's career. 'Go up to the solarium. Mother's waiting. I'll bring Valens.'

Springdawn bustled off and Piro headed for her father's chamber. She'd tell Valens her mother's Turns were getting worse. He'd probably leap at the chance to get the queen under his power. Ambition was a useful tool.

Ten minutes later Piro walked down the corridor towards her mother's solarium with Valens at her side.

'So what happens when the queen has one of her Turns?' Valens asked, his leather case swinging between them as they walked.

'I don't know exactly,' Piro confessed. 'I only know she can't sleep and Seela's been giving her dreamless-sleep but it isn't working — '

'Because it's addictive and you need higher doses for the same effect,' he revealed. 'I'm sure I can mix up something more powerful.'

Piro nodded and opened the door, entering the room. Her mother sat at the writing desk. There was no sign of Springdawn. Piro sent the queen a searching look.

Her mother put her pen down and greeted them. 'Thank you, Pirola. Come in, Valens.'

'I explained how your Turns were getting worse, mother,' Piro said, gesturing to the manservant. 'And he thinks he can help.'

'Thank you, Piro.' Her mother did not miss a beat. 'Valens, I understand you use a special cream on Rolen to help his joints? Could I see it?'

'I do, but it won't help with your problem, Queen Myrella.' He put his leather case on the desk and opened the straps with a practised flick of his wrists. Before he could open the lid, the queen grabbed the case and shoved it under her desk.

Startled, he took a step back.

Springdawn came out from behind the tapestry that covered the servants' stair.

Piro darted out of the way, but did not leave. She did not want to miss this for anything.

'Valens of Ostron Isle, you have been accused of practising unauthorised Power-working on the king,' Springdawn announced with relish.

'Send for King Rolen,' Valens insisted. 'I have been nothing but a faithful servant — '

'Then you won't mind if I search your mind for untamed Affinity,' Springdawn countered.

Valens lifted his hands palm up. 'Do it, if you must.'

Springdawn stepped forwards.

Something was wrong here. Piro went to protest, but Springdawn, eager to make a name for herself, reached for Valens. The moment her fingers touched his temples he pressed his hands over hers.

She gasped.

Piro's nostrils stung and she tasted power on her tongue as her sight shifted to the Unseen. Valens pulsed with radiant Affinity. With each pulse, he drew off more of Springdawn's power, just as he had been drawing off her father's… only the king didn't have power. No, but his innate life force animated him and, recently, he had been only a shade of his former self.

The nun dropped to her knees. Valens bent over her. Piro sprang forwards.

'Don't touch,' her mother cried, the words echoing hollowly down the long tunnel of Piro's altered perception.

Piro grabbed a foot stool and slammed it down on Valens' shoulders. The timber joints squeaked in protest. The stool rebounded from her fingers, gone numb from the impact. But Valens did not fall. Instead Springdawn collapsed at his feet.

Valens released the nun and caught Piro's arm, swinging her around. Before she could react, he had her back pressed to his chest, a small dagger digging into her throat just under her right ear.

Piro clenched her fist and drove it into his ribs. She heard him grunt with pain, but his grip didn't slacken as he backed towards the door to the corridor.

His panting and her ragged breathing were the only sounds in the solarium.

Her mother stood absolutely still. 'Let Piro go. I won't call for the guards. Just let her go.'