Changing Fate [Fate series] (22 page)

Rias looked closely at her. “You miss the place.” It was not exactly a question.

Akila nodded. “You may complain that it's boring, but I
like
boring."

Rias looked past Akila and Druscilla at Briam, who was laughing with his Companions. “Compared to the mess you're in now, I guess you would.” He looked down at his plate. “Can I still go hunting with them?” he asked. “Or is something awful going to happen to me if I don't go straight back?"

Akila shrugged. “Except for the dream, nothing much has happened to me—unless you count Briam's being Chosen,” she whispered. “You'll undoubtedly have strange dreams until you do go back, but you can probably handle that for a few days. I still think you should go back as soon as you can, though."

Rias looked sideways at her. “So should you, shouldn't you?” he asked. “You're having the dreams, too."

"Yes,” Akila nodded. “And I do plan to go back as soon as I can—as soon as Briam is safe. Some nights the Maiden seems to understand that; after all, she has a brother too."

"Are you going to marry my father, then?"

Good question
. “I don't know.” Akila took a bite of her breakfast and chewed it carefully to give herself time to think. “I don't know if your father really
wants
to marry me."

"Of course he does!"

"No, you don't understand. I mean I don't know if he wants to marry me just because I'm my father's daughter and heir to the estate once Briam is out of the way, or if he wants to marry me because he likes me as a person—or whatever. And since he hasn't really had a chance to know me, it's probably the former, and,” the words poured out of her in a rush, “I've been a thing—to my father and a lot of other people—all my life, and I don't want to be married as a thing. I want to be a person!"

Rias was frankly staring at her, and even Druscilla, who was not a morning person, seemed to have noticed her last outburst. Akila blushed. “I guess that sounds pretty crazy,” she sighed.

Rias shook his head. “No,” he said slowly, “I think I know what you mean."

"So do I,” Druscilla said quietly from Akila's other side. “I was the Queen's heiress, and then she decided that I wasn't good enough, so she's going to get another heiress. It's like I'm a building stone or something that can be replaced, as long as the replacement part is sufficiently similar."

Akila nodded. “And I don't want to be married as a ‘suitable bride."

Briam and his Companions began to get up from the table. “Rias,” Briam called, “are you coming or do you plan to dawdle over breakfast all morning?"

Rias jumped up. “I'm coming,” he said quickly. “I can always get something to eat while we're hunting."

Akila grabbed his arm and held on long enough to whisper in his ear. “Don't snack on raw mice; it upsets the people with you, and the bones are hard to digest in human form."

Rias looked startled, and then laughed. “I'll remember,” he promised.

Akila released him. “Have fun, and be careful."

The hunting party left, accompanied by Wolf, and Druscilla turned a teasing look on Akila. “Are you sure you don't want to be Rias's step-mother?” she asked. “You sound like his mother already."

Actually
, Akila thought,
I can think of worse fates
. “He's a nice enough boy,” she replied lightly. “Besides, I'm his aunt by marriage."

Druscilla blinked. “That's right. You are—at least for the moment."

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"Lady,” Akila asked when she went in to see the Queen the afternoon before the Midsummer Festival, “has anyone coached Briam for his part in tomorrow's ritual?"

The Queen looked at her in concern. “I thought you had."

Akila shook her head. “I don't know the ritual; I just arranged for the decorations and the dais to be set up, and the steward told me what needed to be done for that. And the cooks were here last year, so they knew what was expected for food. But, as far as I know, all that Briam has been preparing for is the archery contest. If his Companions have been coaching him for the ritual, he hasn't told me."

"Find Briam and send him to me after supper, then, and I'll tell him what he needs to do,” the Queen said. “And I'll see Druscilla after the evening ritual; she's seen the Mid-Summer ritual, but she's never done it before.” She sighed. “It's probably just as well that she's here, but I do hope that she'll continue to behave herself—"

Her voice trailed off, and Akila was reminded that she wasn't supposed to know the nature of Druscilla's previous misbehavior.

"She seems to be doing well enough, Lady,” Akila said reassuringly.

"Yes, she can be amazingly capable when she wants to be,” the Queen admitted. “I only hope that she will decide she wants to do the ritual well. At least she's not likely to faint or start throwing up in the middle of it.” She sighed sadly.

"It's not easy to stand back and watch someone else doing your work, is it?” Akila sympathized. “I felt awful when I had to leave my home and people in someone else's hands.” She blinked back sudden tears; this was not a subject she usually permitted herself to think about. “I only hope he'll be good to my people."

The Queen raised her eyebrows. “Knowing you,” she said, “I'm surprised you didn't disguise yourself as the housekeeper and stay to look after things yourself."

"I might have if I could have gotten away with it,” Akila admitted. “But he knew I existed, and one of his men would have pointed me out. Lord Ranulf planned to kill Briam, marry me, and use me to bear him children for his new estate. At least when Briam and I fled he couldn't pretend that he hadn't invaded and conquered our home. And I had to take care of Briam; there was no one else to do that.” Then she looked at the Queen's white face and realized what she had said.
Oh, no, I should never have mentioned Lord Ranulf's name!

But the Queen was apparently thinking of something else. “You're very protective of your brother, aren't you?"

Akila forced herself to smile and shrug. “I suppose most of it is just habit by now. After all, he is a grown man and can probably take care of himself."

"He certainly seems capable enough to me."

For what you need him for, he is, Akila thought.

The Queen sighed. “I only hope that Druscilla behaves as well as he does."

"You don't trust her, do you?” Akila said slowly.

"Not entirely.” The Queen frowned. “Last spring she ran off into the forests to avoid taking part in a ritual—and she is
not
suited to life in the wild."

"I should think not!” Akila forced a laugh. “And unless she swapped clothing with her maid, I can't see how she could get beyond the city gates, let alone into the woods."

"It was certainly very odd behavior for her,” the Queen agreed, “and it disturbs me that she would do something so incomprehensible; it makes it impossible to predict what she might do next."

"I see what you mean,” Akila slowly.

"Well, we'll just have to hope for the best,” the Queen said. “I admit that it is a relief not to have to do the rituals, and I was dreading the festival tomorrow. I didn't think I could ever feel as sick as I did when I was pregnant with Rias, but I'd almost swear that it's even worse this time.” She shook her head. “But it's probably just that my memory has mercifully faded over the last ten years. Be sure to send Briam to me immediately after supper."

Briam was delighted by the summons. “I shall be glad to go see her; I haven't seen her in days. How is she, Akila?"

Akila shrugged. “About the same."

Briam frowned in concentration. “There's something you aren't telling me,” he complained. “Why is she sick, and why am I not allowed to sleep with her any more?"

"So she's thrown you out, has she?” Druscilla had come up behind them on the dais. Akila and Rias hastily moved over so that Druscilla could take the center position at the high table, while the servant quickly set down the platter and withdrew out of the range of normal conversation.

Druscilla sat down and continued, “I guess she feels that you've served your purpose, and she has no more need of you—for a while anyway,” she added bitterly.

"What do you mean?” Briam asked, politely, if automatically, serving Druscilla from the platter in front of him.

"You know the truth, Akila,” Druscilla said accusingly. “Why didn't
you
tell him?"

"Because it's the Queen's place to tell him, not mine,” Akila retorted, forcing a smile on her face. “And, please Druscilla, lower your voice and try to look pleasant; people are starting to stare at us."

"You're as bad as she is!” Druscilla snapped in a furious whisper. “Act like a lady, don't upset things, don't disturb the sacrifice—"

"What sacrifice?” Briam asked. Akila quickly looked around to see if anyone had overheard them. No one had, but what she saw at the far end of the Hall made her feel faint. The Shield-Bearer was back. At the moment her attention appeared to be focused on Rias, but if she heard any of this conversation, that would change in a hurry.

"Druscilla, for the love of the Lady,” Akila pleaded. “The Shield-Bearer's heading this way. If she suspects we're plotting anything, she'll watch us constantly. Act innocent, if you possibly can—and if you can manage stupid, so much the better."

Sudden comprehension flashed across Druscilla's face. “Understood,” she murmured, blanking her expression and turning her attention to her plate.

Briam, however, didn't understand anything. “Would one of you please tell me what's wrong with my wife?"

Druscilla stared at him; obviously she had never heard anyone refer to the Queen as ‘my wife.’ “She's with child, Briam."

"What?” Rias yelped.

"Really?” Briam's face lit up. “That's wonderful! Did you hear that, Akila? I'm going to be a father!"

The Shield-Bearer came to stand behind Rias just in time to hear Briam's announcement. Her face turned white, and Akila hastily shoved a cup of wine into her hand. Wesia downed it and the color came back into her face, but when she set the goblet down, her jaw was set and she looked at Briam as if she wanted to kill him herself. Now.

Wesia curtly refused to join them for supper and strode off toward the Queen's rooms. Akila hastily excused herself, ordered the wolf to stay under the table at Briam's feet, fled to Druscilla's room, shed her clothes as fast as she could get out of them, and changed into her cat shape.

When she slipped into the Queen's room less than ten minutes after the Shield-Bearer had left the atrium, she was relieved to see that the Queen was asleep. Wesia sat beside her bed, watching her as if she were afraid to take her eyes off her. Akila curled up on the windowsill and began grooming herself, being careful to present the picture of a cat with no concern beyond the condition of her coat.

It was a good half-hour before the Queen started to stir, and Wesia hadn't moved the entire time. But when the Queen's eyelids flickered, Wesia leaned forward and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Wesia?” The Queen turned to smile at her. “Good, you're back. How are things on the borders?"

"Well enough,” Wesia said briskly. “But how are things with you? I leave you for only a couple of weeks, and look at you! How could you get into this state?"

The Queen reached up to pat Wesia's hand. “I find it difficult to believe that you have attained your present age and rank without at least theoretical knowledge of the process—even if you have never borne a child yourself.” She looked around and added, “Where's Briam?"

"What do you want with him?” the swordswoman snarled. “I should think he's done quite enough already—don't tell me you're still sleeping with him!"

"No,” the Queen chuckled, “and that's exactly what the healer said when she ordered me to move him elsewhere. I think he's sleeping over the back garden near Akila."

"And Druscilla?"

The Queen frowned. “Akila was sleeping in Druscilla's room, but she said she would move and put Druscilla back there..."

Her voice trailed off, and the two women regarded each other in silence. “Yes,” the Queen admitted, “we may have a problem there."

"Maybe, and maybe not,” Wesia said. “They were bickering at the high table when I came in. What is Druscilla doing back here anyway? And
why
is Rias here?"

The Queen thought for a moment. “Now that you ask, I don't know. My mind isn't functioning all that clearly these days, and when Druscilla came in one day and said that the guards had come and dragged her back here at top speed, I thought you had sent for her—but you weren't here and didn't know I was ill. I do need her, of course, because I can't possibly stand through the presentation tomorrow, but I don't remember sending for her. and when she arrived, frankly, I was feeling to sick to care how or why she was here.

"As for what Rias is doing here, I have absolutely no idea. Akila told me that he had run away from the place where Lord Ranulf left him, and she asked leave to send a message to the steward there, so I imagine that someone will come to collect him in a few days. Druscilla hasn't been complaining about him, so he must have stopped teasing her the way he did last winter. The housekeeper reported to me when he arrived; she put him in his usual room. Yesterday he went hunting with the Year-King and his Companions, and they all came back safely, so he appears not to be causing trouble."

"And if someone doesn't come to collect him before summer's end?” Wesia asked.

"Then you can provide an escort to take him back to wherever his father left him.” The Queen smiled up at Wesia. “I have every confidence in your ability to handle Rias."

"And Druscilla?” The Shield-Bearer's eyebrows rose skeptically.

The Queen shrugged. “She's here now, and she's needed here. Akila has been working very hard managing the household, but that's a full time job, and she can't do the morning and evening rituals in any case. So Druscilla can take over my religious duties, she and Akila can share the rest of the work between them. Right now, I can barely handle the correspondence. Any complicated problems can be referred to me—or to you, if I get any sicker. But I shouldn't; I usually do well enough as long as I stay in bed."