The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) (26 page)

“I
have shown you how to throw fire, but I extinguished it using another element.
Understand the elements and you can do almost anything. Soon you won’t even
need to start a fire. You will simply be able to conjure it with the pure force
of your mind.”

She
grinned at Mother Chennai. “Show me how you did that.”

—

Nic
was in his study late that night. Aubrey had tried to convince him to move into
his father’s study and rooms, but he couldn’t bear the thought of being in the
room where Wimarc and his attacker had been killed.

He
had spent the day in Parliament trying to work out how best to handle the
transition. He had known this day would come, but it wasn’t supposed to be for
a number of years. He wasn’t ready to be king yet.

There
was a soft knock on the door before Teddy let himself in. His younger brother
appeared tired. He had spent the day in mourning with their mother and
siblings. Nic had wanted to join them, but his duty came first.

Teddy
sank into the chair opposite his brother. “You don’t think she did it, do you?”

“I
don’t know what to think,” he said. “Hallam is pushing me to authorize her
arrest. Otto is assuring me she is innocent. Everyone’s at me to make a
decision.”

“What
does your head tell you?”

“That
I have no choice but to find her. Question her.”

Teddy
jumped to his feet and rushed to Nic’s side, grabbing his arm. “They will kill
her the moment she steps foot back into the city. You know that!”

“What
else can I do?” Nic cried. “The man who killed him is dead, but he can’t have
been the mastermind. How did he get in here? How did he know his way around?
The nobles want answers. They want action!”

“But
what do you want? Do you think she did it?” Teddy asked.

“There
are
rumors
,” Nic whispered. “Tales of a prophecy. If
she is building a rebellion…”

“Nic,”
Teddy warned. “She will be killed.”

Tears
swam in Nic’s eyes as he faced his brother. “I know. But I have no choice. He
said ‘Tempani our queen’. I heard him.”

Teddy
froze. “He said ‘our queen’? Are you sure?”

Nic
nodded.

“Were
his eyes blank and unmoving?”

He
nodded again.

A
small smile crept onto his face as he thought back to the conversation he
overheard at Darby’s manor. He patted Nic’s shoulder. “He didn’t act for
Tempani.”

“How
can you be sure?”

“The
Kalaowins don’t refer to their leader as queen. Even if she sat on this throne
what would they call her?”

Nic’s
eyes widened as it dawned on him. “Shiasa,” he whispered. Of course the
Kalaowins would never refer to any of their leaders as king or queen. Their
traditions and beliefs are strong. Stronger than the Kamari way.

“And
it sounds like he was bewitched. Someone else spoke for him.”

“She
needs to be warned,” Nic said. “There will be people who want revenge no matter
what.”

Teddy
nodded and gripped his brother’s arm. “I know where she is,” he said. “I’ll go
to her.”

Nic
couldn’t help but smile. “I knew it.”

Teddy
shrugged. “What will you do?”

Nic
stood and helped Teddy to his feet. “Find out who’s behind this.”

“You
know of my suspicions.”

Nic
shook his head. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “They were brothers. Could you
do that to blood?”

“Accuse
me once more of having an affair with Tempani, and let’s see.”

Nic
laughed sadly. “How can you joke at a time like this?”

“Because
what else can I do?”

Nic
sighed and pulled his brother into a hug. “Be safe.” His voice caught in his
throat. “Keep her safe.”

“I
will.”

—

Tempani
laughed as Madoc chased after
Tilaw
, trying to wrench
his sock from his teeth.
Tilaw
was quick and darted
out of reach as soon as Madoc’s outstretched hand got too close.

“Just
let him have it,” Tempani cried.

“No
chance,” Madoc puffed as he lunged again. “I didn’t bring many with me.”

Tempani
waved to Bhatia and was surprised when the girl waved back. She was about to
call her over, but Bhatia scurried off before she got the chance. Tempani
shrugged. At least she got a wave. That was something.

“Shouldn’t
you be off practicing your magic or something?” Madoc asked, steadying himself
against a tree to catch his breath.

“And
miss all this?” She laughed. “Even a sorceress needs a laugh every now and
then.”

“Is
that what you’re calling yourself now is it?”

“I
guess.” She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. “Doesn’t seem very fitting though
does it? I mean, there’s still so much I don’t know.”

“You’ll
learn,” he said. “For now let’s enjoy what we have left of these warm days
before the cold sets in.” He offered her his arm, but she pushed it away.

“Race
you to the stables?”

“Fine,”
he said. “The loser has to get my sock back.”

“You’re
on,” she said and they took off. She let him take the lead and run for the gate
while she slipped away and crept around the side to her trusty spot in the
wall. She pushed the rock aside and leapt nimbly through it. She then darted
through the courtyard and laughed at Madoc’s protests as he caught up to her.

She
reached the stables and whistled sharply.
Tilaw
bounded up to her, tail wagging and sock hanging from his mouth. “Drop,” she
said.

He
obeyed and dropped the sock at her feet. She bent down and picked it up, wiping
the saliva on her breeches before handing it back to Madoc. “You might want to
wash that.”

“All
I had to do was say drop?” He mumbled as he walked away shaking his head.

Tempani
spent the remainder of the day enjoying the sun. She knew these days were a
luxury and thanked Mother Chennai for forcing her to take a break from their
lessons. She would have happily continued learning, but Mother Chennai was wary
of pushing her too far. Especially after the incident in the infirmary the
other night.

She
wondered if she would ever know enough. If she would ever be ready to lead this
rebellion? More often than not it felt like an impossible task. Yet so many
believed she could make it happen. But were they pinning their hopes on a
prophecy that promised it would and not on the girl who was supposed to
fulfill
it? What would happen if she didn’t succeed? Would
another girl come forward further down the track and be the new chosen one? Or
would all hopes die if she failed?

That
thought sent a shiver through her. She knew she would probably die and wondered
if that thought would ever stop terrifying her. The thought of no longer
belonging to this world was not something she enjoyed. She didn’t want to leave
her friends behind. Chae. Nic. Even her father. She wished she could make
things right with him before it all came to a head but knew it wasn’t an
option. He was on King Wimarc’s side. He had been forever.

And
what about Chae? He still hadn’t decided if he was with them. She had let him
have time to himself to think it over, but he had yet to come to a decision.
She knew Dahlia had spoken to him about it. Even Madoc and Darby had tried.
When would he decide? The longer he stayed here the harder it would be for him
to plead ignorance. He would be considered a conspirator, and he would be
executed. Even Nic couldn’t stop that.

She
sat down to dinner that night, her thoughts still with her fears, and ate in
silence. The others watched her, but she chose to ignore them and instead
shoveled
food into her mouth at an alarming speed. All of
her court manners were gone as she washed down a mouthful with a swig of wine.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Pass
the stew,” Bhatia said when she sat beside her.

Tempani
glanced up. “You’re sitting with us?”

Bhatia
shrugged as she spooned food into her bowl. “It appears that way doesn’t it?”

“I
guess so.”

“Don’t
take it personally,” she said. “I just wanted to be here when all the fun
started.”

“Fun?”

“I’ve
just come from checking the perimeter,” she said.

“We
have guards on watch,” Madoc scoffed. “I think they can handle it.”

She
glared at him. “If that’s the case why did I see the intruder before they did?”

“Intruder?”
He choked and jumped from the bench, making it rattle as he did. “Why hasn’t it
been reported?”

Bhatia
shrugged and swallowed her mouthful. “I’m sure they’re on their way to tell
you.”

“Is
she for real?” He growled.

One
of her men,
Indiro
, came running in and almost
crashed into Madoc. “Sir,” he panted. “We’ve caught someone
breakin
’
in.”

“How
did they get past the patrol?”

“He
must’ve used magic,” he stammered. “We
didn
’ see him
till he got through the wall.”

“The
grounds don’t allow for enchantments. If he’d cloaked himself it would’ve disappeared
the moment he entered the convent,” Tempani explained as she followed Madoc.

“Your
guards need to learn to look inside for danger too,” Bhatia called out.

Madoc
swore under his breath and broke into a run.

“We
got him tied up,”
Indiro
said as he ran alongside
them. “In the stables.”

They
burst into the stables, and Tempani blinked her eyes to adjust to the dark. The
horses neighed softly as she passed them. She paused briefly to pat Mincha’s
nose and then strode up to the group of men. At the
cent
er
of the group was a
young man, his hands tied behind his back, as he was pinned to the hay by one
of her men. His face was half covered in the bale but Tempani
recogni
z
ed
him anyway.

“Is
that any way to treat your prince?” She asked and pushed them out of the way.

“We
ain’t
seen him before,”
Indiro
said. “How was we to know?”

Tempani
reached down and untied the knots binding Teddy’s hands together and helped him
to his feet. His face broke into a smile, and he pulled her into a hug.

“Thank
the Gods you’re safe,” he whispered and then he turned to Madoc. “Is there
somewhere we can talk? You best call Darby too.”

“Fetch
Darby and the others,” Madoc instructed the men. “Send them to my rooms.”

Teddy
didn’t talk much as they made their way to Madoc’s rooms. He seemed content to
just walk in silence and stare at the stars. Tempani clung to his arm,
concerned about the lines around his eyes. He was exhausted and pale. She just
wanted to feed him and put him to bed, but he was insistent that he had
something important to tell them.

Colbert
was the last to arrive, and once the door was closed behind him, they all
turned to Teddy.

“So
this is the face of the rebellion?” He asked as his eyes flickered over each of
them. “I’m impressed you kept it all so quiet.”

Tempani
rushed forward and gripped his hands between hers. “I wanted to tell you,” she
said. “But it would have put you in an impossible situation.”

“I’m
not angry.” Teddy smiled at her. “I had my suspicions. It’s nice to know I’m
smarter than I look.”

“Why
are you here?” Darby asked.

Teddy’s
smile disappeared. “I’m sorry to tell you this but father is dead,” he said.
“Murdered.”

They
collectively gasped and then turned to each other, wide eyed and worried.
Tempani felt tears welling in her eyes, and she wiped at them angrily. She
didn’t even like the man, but she knew that Nic loved him. And Darby cared for
him greatly. As did her father.

“So
Nic is king?” Chae asked. “You can go back and marry him now. Put an end to
this fight you’re planning and do it the proper way.”

Teddy
shook his head and got to his feet. “That’s why I’m here. They caught the man
who killed him, and he told them that he did it in your name, Tempani. People
want you to pay.”

“He’s
lying!” She cried. “Can’t they question him? Find out that he’s lying?”

“Hallam
cut him down before he could be questioned. They believe they have their
confession. That’s all that counts.”

“But
can’t Nic do something? Unless he believes…”

“No,”
Teddy cut her off. “He doesn’t believe it. He sent me to warn you. Leave. Go
into hiding.”

“He’s
king. He can protect her,” Chae argued.

“The
nobles want her blood,” he said. “Hallam leaked word of the man’s confession. I
believe he is behind the entire thing, but Nic won’t hear of it.”