He glanced at her, and a smile broke across his ruddy face. “What are you staring at?”
She looked away, feeling her cheeks color. “Nothing.”
“A fine thing to say of a man.”
Diani laughed. “My apologies, my lord.” She looked at him again. “How is it that you’re still only a thane, and yet you command the army of Thorald?”
“My father is duke of Thorald. But he’s too ill to leave Thorald Castle, much less lead an army to war.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged, facing southward again.
“I recently lost my mother,” Diani said. “She had been sick for a very long time.”
“You have my sincere condolences.”
This time Diani turned her face away, her eyes suddenly stinging.
“I’m curious about something, Lady Curlinte. You said yesterday that you had more reason than most to hate the Qirsi. Can you explain?”
“I believe the conspiracy killed my brother. And I’m certain that it was responsible for an attack on me that nearly proved fatal.”
“Demons and fire! I had no idea!”
“As you can see, I’ve recovered.” Yet even as she spoke the words she felt a dull throbbing in the scars she bore from that terrible day on the promontory, as if the assassins’ arrows had hit true once again.
“Still, I hate the Qirsi for one woman’s betrayal of my father’s trust. You’ve endured far more at the hands of these demons, yet you find it in your heart to give them your trust.”
“I didn’t always,” she said, remembering the rage and fear that drove her to imprison briefly every white-hair in Castle Curlinte. She almost told him all that she had done in those dark days following the attempts on her life. But shame stopped her.
They stood in silence for some time watching as the gleaner and his small army continued to speak among themselves. Eventually, they summoned a mighty wind and then a tremendous ball of flame.
“What have we done?” the thane muttered, shaking his head at the sight of the blackened ground.
“The gleaner will be a powerful ally.”
“If he’s true.”
Soon after this display of their might, the Qirsi began to disperse, returning to their lords. Diani turned to the thane, strangely reluctant to end their time together.
“I suppose I should rejoin the queen,” she said.
He nodded, his gaze still fixed on the white-hairs. “And I should return to my men.”
“I’ve enjoyed this time with you.”
Marston looked at her. “As have I, my lady.” His eyes flicked back toward the Qirsi. “I hope that we can…” The man’s expression hardened. “Now what are those two doing?”
“My lord.”
He pointed. “The two archministers. They’re going off on their own.” He faced her again, his grey eyes boring into hers. “Didn’t you tell me that you’ve been suspicious of your queen’s archminister for some time now?”
“Yes, though I haven’t been able to prove anything.”
He gave a harsh grin. “And I’ve had just the same problem with Kearney’s archminister. I’ve no doubt that she’s betrayed the king, but I haven’t yet found proof, and Kearney refuses to send her away.” He stared at the two women again. “It has to be more than a coincidence, the two of them being together like this.” Abruptly he took her hand. “Come with me. We must speak with the king.”
He very nearly yanked her off her feet compelling her to follow.
“I want you to tell Kearney of your suspicions. Make him see that his archminister is speaking with a woman you feel certain is a traitor.”
“We should find my queen as well. She’s been reluctant to believe that Abeni could betray her.”
“Look,” he said. “They’re together.”
They walked directly to the two sovereigns, heedless of interrupting their conversation.
“Your Majesty,” Marston said, as he and the duchess stopped in front of them. “We must have a word with you.”
“I was having a word with the queen, Lord Shanstead.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Forgive me, but this can’t wait.”
“Diani?” Olesya said. “Is everything all right?”
“We’re really not certain, Your Highness. After the gleaner met with all the Qirsi, Abeni and the king’s archminister went off together for a private conversation.”
“And?” the king demanded, glaring at the thane.
“Your Majesty,” Marston said, “the duchess has long suspected that Sanbira’s archminister is with the conspiracy.”
Olesya nodded. “I’m afraid that’s true. And while we know nothing for certain, I’ve grown wary of her, too.”
“And what does this have to do with my archminister?”
“Your Majesty, please. We both know that you’ve had your doubts about her. You came very close to banishing her from Audun’s Castle.”
“That was a long time ago, Lord Shanstead. I’ve since come to realize how foolish I would have been to act on my suspicions.”
“But don’t you see, Your Majesty? You weren’t being foolish at all. Even now, she consorts with a woman who might very well be a traitor to her realm.”
Kearney looked like he might argue the point further. Then he stopped himself, though it appeared to take some effort. “What is it you’d have me do?”
“She should be placed with the Solkaran prisoners, Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“Don’t you think that’s somewhat extreme, Lord Shanstead?” the queen asked.
Marston turned to her. “Forgive me for saying so, Your Highness, but the same should be done with your archminister.”
“For having a conversation?”
“For plotting against their realms!”
“Lady Curlinte,” Kearney said, his bright green eyes meeting hers. “Surely you don’t agree with what the thane proposes.”
Her eyes slid toward the queen, who was watching her keenly. No doubt the memory of what Diani had done in Curlinte was as fresh in Olesya’s mind as it was in her own.
“Let me ask you this,” the king went on, his voice dropping to a whisper, so that all of them had to lean closer to him. “Do you trust the gleaner?”
Marston shook his head. “Not especially.”
“I do, Your Majesty,” Diani said. “He risked a great deal revealing to all that he’s a Weaver. A man who would do that must be trustworthy.”
Kearney gave a small smile. “I agree. What I’m about to say must not leave this circle, for it’s not really my secret to tell. But under the circumstances it’s the best way I can think of to put your fears to rest.” He paused, eyeing Marston and then the duchess. “Do I have your word that you’ll keep this to yourselves?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The thane nodded. “Of course.”
“Perhaps you’ve heard that in the past, when Weavers were discovered, they were not the only ones who were executed.”
“Their families were as well,” Diani said.
“Yes. Which is why the gleaner and my archminister have long kept it secret that they’re brother and sister.”
“Impossible!”
“Why, Marston?” the king asked. “Because it proves her fealty?”
“But she and the archminister-”
“Whatever Keziah is doing, I assure you, she has the best interests of the realm at heart. You have to trust me, Marston, as your father does. Keziah has risked more in this fight against the conspiracy than anyone I know, except perhaps her brother and Lord Curgh.”
“Risked in what way, Your Majesty?”
“I can’t tell you that. Again, you have to trust me.”
Marston nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He didn’t look pleased, but it did appear to Diani that he had been swayed by what the king had told him. Certainly she had been.
“Does this change your opinion of Abeni, Lady Curlinte?”
“No, Your Highness, it doesn’t.”
Olesya shook her head. “I didn’t think so. Continue to watch her, and the others as well.”
She heard a dismissal in the words. “Yes, Your Highness.” She bowed, as did Marston. “Thank you.”
They walked away together, the thane staring at the ground, muttering to himself.
“I was so certain,” he said at last.