The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) (13 page)

“So
when King Raleigh came to power, he forbade women the use of their magic?”

“Exactly,”
he said. “He had enough sense though to allow common men to heal but refused
them any further use of their powers.”

“But
in the convent we can heal. Why?”

“King
Raleigh claimed the Great God Windel came to him in a dream and told him the
convent was a sacred place and that women who enter there were to be exempt
from the law.”

“All
this because one woman turned traitor?”

“It
was a terrible time for this kingdom. Because of her, no queen here will ever
be anything more than an ornament for people to look at. She will never have a
voice.”

“Thought
I might find you here.”
Chae’s
voice made her jump.
“Sorry to interrupt, but you really should be heading home Tempani.”

“Quite
right,” Darby said and ushered them to the door.

“How
do you do it?” She whispered. “We’re all helpless, aren’t we?”

Darby
winked at her. “I drink.”

Tempani
guessed they all had different ways of dealing with their feelings. Hers might
not be the safest, but it did the trick. So when she got home and was safely
tucked in her room, she reached for her dagger and welcomed the release as the
blood oozed out of her shoulder.

She
vowed that she would have a voice in this kingdom. She would not become an
ornament that Nic paraded at court. She was not going down that path. She would
give him no more encouragement.

She
was able to put her plan into action the following evening at a palace dinner.
The king wanted to show his nobles that life would continue as normal in the
wake of the latest riot so he was throwing a lavish feast.

She
spent the entire meal anxiously waiting for it to be over. She knew that as
soon as it was she would have to move quickly or she’d be approached by Nic.
Before she knew it, the king rose from the table to signal the meal was over.

With
a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw him approaching them with a smile.
She knew he was on his way to ask her to dance, and as much as she may want to,
she knew she had to decline. Or she could just avoid him altogether, which
seemed like the better option so she got to her feet and dragged Dahlia up with
her.

“Walk
with me,” she said as she linked her arm through Dahlia’s and walked away,
leaving Nic staring after them in bewilderment.

“What
are you doing?”

“I’m
trying to show him that I have no interest in being courted by him.”

Dahlia
raised her fine eyebrows at her friend. “You don’t?”

“It’s
not worth all the drama that will follow.”

“If
you say so.”

“I
do. So please help me and ask him to dance.”

Dahlia
sighed but did as her friend asked and moved towards Nic.

Tempani
slipped through the doors and found a spot on the terrace that was partially
obscured by the blossom trees. She leaned against the railing, resisting the
urge she felt to go inside and talk to him.

Instead
she tried to focus on why she was doing it. She’d seen the violence of the
Guard, and she would not be the cause of further rioting. The people of the
city didn’t deserve it. If they didn’t want her to be queen, then she wouldn’t
be.

She
had brief moments though of wondering why she felt the need to help people who
hated her - who didn’t want her to marry their prince. But deep down she knew
it was because they didn’t know any better. They had been taught to hate her
kind and knew no different. So long as she could help them without being
discovered, then she would continue to.

“Why
are you avoiding me?”

She
jumped as Nic came around the corner.

“Did
the other day mean nothing to you?” He stepped closer and cupped her face.
“That kiss was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”

She
closed her eyes and took a deep breath. His touch was distracting her. Clouding
her mind and her resolve.

“We
can make it work,” he breathed. “The Guard have captured the ringleaders of the
riot. They’ll be punished and so will any others who fight our union.”

Her
eyes flew open, and she stepped away from him. “I have to go.”

“Tempani.”

She
hesitated, the pleading in his voice pained her, but she had to stay strong.
She knew this was hurting him, but it was for the best. “Goodnight,” she said
and tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her around the waist.

“I’m
not giving up.” He released her and watched her walk away.

—

She
waited until the manor was asleep, and then she left, moving with stealth as she
made her way on foot into the city. Another fight had broken out while she’d
been dining at the palace.

Her
hair was tucked tightly under her cap again, and she’d smeared her face with
soot from the hearth. If she did stumble across Keane or Lindow, she was sure
they wouldn’t recognize her.

By
the time she’d reached the city, the fighting had died down. Wounded bodies
littered the streets and were being carried off to safety by those who were
able. One man struggled as he tried to drag another along. She rushed over and
gripped the injured man’s legs. Together they carried him to a home where he
was taken into a room and seen to by a healer.

She
waved away the man’s thanks as she left them and returned to the street. There
was a scream up ahead, and she broke into a run to see what was happening. When
she got closer she slowed, and pressed herself against the shadows.

Under
the light of the moon she saw a man on his knees, pleading to the Guard who had
their swords pointed at his chest.

“Please,”
he cried. “I didn’t do
nothin
’.”

“You
were seen with a knife.” A cold voice cut through, and Tempani gasped when Lord
Ricton stepped towards the man. “You are a traitor to the crown.”

“I’m
a baker,” he said. “I need it for work.”

Ricton
laughed, but it was a laugh devoid of humor. “You lie.” He raised his hands,
and the baker’s body convulsed before bursting into flames.

A
hand covered Tempani’s mouth, stifling her scream. The slight noise she did
make was drowned out by the screams of agony from the baker.

Her
eyes were wide as she watched the man die before her. When his screams ended,
his body was doused with water.

“Leave
him here,” Ricton ordered the Guard. “Let them see what we do to traitors.”

Tears
ran from her eyes and dripped over the hand that was still clasped to her
mouth. She was turned around and held tightly against someone. His coat was
rough against her cheek, and he smelled of familiar spices.

His
lips pressed against her head. “Come.” His arm remained around her shoulders as
he guided her home.

“They’re
monsters,” she choked. “Murderers.”

Rando
looked down at her, and sighed. He offered no explanation as there was none to
give. What they had witnessed was the way of the kingdom.

—

 “What
is the latest chapter in your man troubles?” Leandra asked as she handed her
visitors tea with drops of sweet honey stirred through.

“Prince
Nicolass has become difficult,” Dahlia said, choosing her words carefully. “The
more she evades him, the angrier he becomes.”

Tempani
shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was true. Nic’s temper was shorter these
days but that could have more to do with the small fights still breaking out in
the city. And word of the baker’s murder had reached the palace, and fingers
were being pointed towards the commoners. Tempani wanted to tell them the
truth, but she knew it would not be believed.

“The
prince always seems such a kind man. But I guess he is his father’s son.”

“Oh
no, Leandra, he is kind. Love makes us do crazy things.”

“There’s
no need to exaggerate Dahlia,” Tempani said, her cheeks flushing a deep red.

“The
feeling’s not mutual?”

“Of
course not.”

Leandra
hid her grin as she served her friends a piece of warm cake.
Tilaw
licked his lips as his mistress broke off a piece and
handed it to him.

“And
you sweet Dahlia, any prospects?”

“One
or two,” she answered Leandra’s question shyly.

“Or
ten! You have men falling over their feet to talk to you. I even caught Chae
staring at you over dinner last night. I think you may have caught his fancy.
Although I’m not expecting him to settle down with a wife. He always dreamed of
travelling once he got his shield. I imagine he only stuck around this long
because he was waiting for me to return.”

Dahlia
blushed and twisted her hands in her lap. Leandra glanced at her and smiled.
Perhaps Chae had changed his mind.

Leandra
rose when there was a soft knock on the door. She returned with Madoc on her
heels.

“Ladies.”
He bowed. “I was passing by and thought I would ride with you back to the
manor.” His eyes fell on the table. “Ooh cake,” he whispered as he took a seat
and cut himself a piece.

Tempani
raised her eyebrows, but she wasn’t all that surprised. Over the past few weeks
she found that one of her friends always happened to be nearby when she was in
the city. She knew they were being overly cautious. Her love of the city had
them concerned she would be too close to the action if another riot broke out.
She would be chained to her bed if they knew the truth about her sneaking
around at night.

—

 “My
lady.” Nic bowed as he entered the library.

Tempani
put her book aside and rose to her feet, sinking into a curtsey as she greeted
him.

He
wandered over to the shelves, reaching from ceiling to floor, and appeared to
be absorbed in the options before him.

She
needed him to leave. When he wasn’t around, she was stronger in her resistance
of him. But when he was near, all she thought of was their kiss. 

“If
you’re here to see Chae, he’s not here,” she moved to the door.

“What
are you reading?” He walked over to her and lifted it out of her hands, taking
in the title with a small smile. “A collection of tales from the Pentian Isles?
I’m impressed.”

“I
don’t read to impress.” She snatched the book from his hands.

“Which
is your favorite?” He asked, ignoring her glare. When she didn’t answer, he
shrugged and took a seat. “My personal favorite is the tale of
Yioshu
the Ignorant and his search for eternal life. I
often wonder if people called him ‘the Ignorant’ when he was alive, and they
followed him blindly or did they wait until he was no longer of this world?”

Tempani
cocked her head to the side, considering his question. “I would like to think
I’d have said it while he was alive.”

Nic
nodded. “Yes, I like to think that too. But would we have?”

She
sat opposite him, interested in the conversation despite her best efforts. “I
guess it would depend on the kingdom. Would we have been free to speak ill
against our neighbors then?”

“Are
we ever free?”

She
chewed on her lip as she weighed up whether to speak her mind in front of him.
“A tough question,” she eventually said.

His
smile was easy as he shook his head at
Lindow’s
offer
of tea. “That it is. And with no easy answer.”

“When
you reign,” she began slowly, watching his face for his reaction, “will people
be free to speak?”

“So
long as they don’t call me ignorant,” he laughed. “I doubt I would take kindly
to that.”

Tempani
bristled, put off by his cavalier response. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a
guest arriving shortly.” She stood. “Lindow will see you out.”

“I
have offended you.” He followed her to the door and grabbed her hand. “Whatever
I said, I apologize.”

She
snatched her hand from his grasp and glared at him. “I take offence only to
your attitude towards your crown. You take for granted the good you could do in
this kingdom. You make jokes about laws you will instate and care not for the
lives of your people.”

Nic’s
smile quickly became a scowl as he stood over her. “This is not the first time
you have questioned the passion I have for my people. It is becoming tiresome,”
he said. “I make jokes because what can I do until I have the crown? My father
is healthy and going nowhere fast.”

“You
can question his decisions,” she snapped. “Tell him your thoughts.”

He
rolled his eyes. “If Lord Darby being in his ear for years hasn’t done anything
then I have no hope. Do you really think he sees me as an equal?”

“So
instead you do nothing?” She threw her arms up in the air. “Five men are being
hanged tomorrow for that riot. Did they even get a trial?”