The Rabbit and the Raven: Book Two in the Solas Beir Trilogy (33 page)

The Eastern Oracle hissed, then resumed his composure. “Rubbish.
Nerine
is but a simple mermaid—her power will never be equal to my sister’s,” he said coldly. “But never mind that. Allow me to present a second example of how those who serve the Solas Beir fare. Is it not also true that your father removed Tynan Tierney from the post of Southern Oracle? What assurance do I, or any of the oracles, have that you will not do the same should we disagree with your policies?”

“Your example is moot,” David replied, narrowing his eyes. He glanced down and realized he was clenching his fists. He forced himself to relax, uncurling his fingers; acting defensive was not helping. Taking a breath, he continued. “Tierney was not removed for disagreeing with my father—he was removed for slaughtering thousands upon thousands to feed his greed.”

“They were simple humans. Your father lost sight of the proper order of things. He betrayed the powerful for the weak,” the oracle spat.

“No. My father fulfilled his role in representing the Light by protecting those who could not protect themselves. And it cost him his
life
.”

The Eastern Oracle glared at David, and then sighed dramatically, settling back into his chair. “Ah, young Lightbearer, I see that we have reached an impasse. There are many things about which we do not agree.”

“It seems so.” David focused on projecting calm confidence. He maintained eye contact with the oracle.

The oracle looked away, studying his fingernails. He looked back at David. “
Do you know that, in my city, the Kruorumbrae live among us, and my people have no reason to fear them?”

David hesitated, wondering where the oracle was going with this. He nodded. “That is what Hedeon told us.”

The oracle raised his eyebrows, glancing in Hedeon’s direction before turning back to David. “And do you believe it to be true? Have you seen anything to suggest otherwise?”

In the periphery of his vision, David could see Cael
tense up, and knew what he was thinking.
Have caution in how you answer, Solas Beir.
“No. Quite the opposite,” David replied. “We have seen only order in your city. But how can this be? The Kruorumbrae are well known for their insatiable appetites.”

The Eastern Oracle smiled. “I have a system. You see, young man, in the void of power left by your father’s death,
someone
had to take control, lest we be overrun by the Kruorumbrae. I established a system of courtesans to serve the needs of the Blood Shadows, who agreed to still their attacks against our citizenry. But I know you will not believe my words alone.”

The oracle signaled to one of his clerks, who went to the door of the oracle’s chambers. The clerk rapped twice on the door and a young man dressed in silken purple clothing entered the courtroom. “You must hear firsthand from those who dwell within the inner sanctuary of our city. Step forward, courtesan,” the oracle commanded.

The young man moved in front of the throne and bowed to David.

“Tell me, Lightbearer,” the oracle continued. “Does our young friend appear to be in good health?”

The courtesan took a step forward, turning slowly in a circle for David’s inspection. David studied the young man carefully. He did seem healthy and strong, with a good complexion and clear, intelligent eyes. “Yes, he seems healthy enough,” David replied. “What is the mark on his hand?”

The oracle looked amused, his eyebrows raised, a sly smile on his lips. “You do not recognize it?”

David frowned. “Of course I do. It looks like the Sign of the Throne, the sigil of the Solas Beir. But what does it mean in this context?”

“In this
context
?” the oracle laughed. “A fine dicing of words. But I shall indulge you, nevertheless. It means that this young man is a sacred son of our city. The courtesan class is elevated above all others. They have the finest quarters in the palace and eat the best food. I daresay they receive better nourishment even than I,” the oracle chuckled, patting his perfectly flat belly. “They must, of course, because it is the blood of the courtesans that feeds the Kruorumbrae who dwell here. In exchange for their service, courtesans and their families live a life of luxury. Their family members bear a different mark, assuring that they will never be touched by the Blood Shadows.”

“And what about the rest of the people who live here?” David asked.

“They too are protected. Under the law of the courtesans, our people have been safe from the Kruorumbrae,” the oracle clarified.

“I see,” David said.

“Good. I am most glad we understand each other,” the oracle smiled.

“I do have one more question though,” David
said, returning the oracle’s smile, “for him.” He nodded toward the courtesan.

The courtesan turned to the oracle questioningly—
it seemed he had not planned on having a speaking role. Or had been ordered to remain silent.

“You did say I would get to hear from him firsthand, did you not?” David asked innocently.

“So I did,” the oracle frowned. He flicked his wrist at the courtesan. “Proceed.” The courtesan turned back to David.

“Are you a courtesan of your own free will?” David asked.

“Yes, Sire. I am,” the courtesan answered.

The Eastern Oracle beamed triumphantly. “You see, Lightbearer, under
my
system, we are living in a golden era of peace and prosperity, as golden indeed as the mark worn by the courtesans themselves. Why then, would I be so foolish as to disrupt that peace by joining your cause? Perhaps if
you
were to implement a similar system in the western realm and let go of this little war of yours, your problems would disappear.”

The oracle was baiting him. For all his talk of peace, the Eastern Oracle wanted a fight with the Throne, and further discussion could only make things worse. David could see that an alliance with the Eastern Oracle would never be possible. The only question that remained was whether the Eastern Oracle was acting of his own accord or if he had already made a deal with Tierney.

“I see where you stand on the matter,” David said. “Thank you for your time and hospitality. We will leave the city immediately and return to Caislucis, once we have gathered our belongings. Cael, Abby, let’s go.”

Abby moved from her place against the wall to join David and Cael in the center of the court. The Eastern Oracle looked startled. Apparently he had not noticed the presence of a woman. David boldly broke protocol, taking Abby’s hand as they bowed together with Cael. Then the three of them turned and left the court of the Eastern Oracle without another word.

The Eastern Oracle waited until the courtroom doors were closed. He turned to Hedeon. “Do
not
let them out of your sight,” he commanded.

“Yes, my lord.” Hedeon bowed to the oracle and then turned to follow the Solas Beir and his friends.

Chapter Twelve

RUN RABBIT RUN

“
W
e’re leaving,” Jon heard David call as he stormed by the hospitality parlor, towing a veiled Abby. Cael followed a few paces behind.

Startled, Marisol looked up from the game she and Jon had been playing with the parlor attendant. She gave Jon a look of wide-eyed alarm, and they both rose from their chairs.

“Thanks,” Jon said to the attendant, handing her the parchment cards he had been holding. Marisol placed hers on the marble-topped table in front of her. Jon grabbed Marisol’s hand and they hurried to catch up to the others.

David, Abby, and Cael were almost to the top of the stairs when Jon and Marisol joined them. “How
’d it go?” Jon asked.

“We’ll talk in the carriage,” David growled, charging down the stairs.

Jon raised his eyebrows. Apparently, the sooner they left the palace, the better.

David watched the guards close the carriage door. He took a deep breath as the iron door clanged shut. Abby removed her veil and began to fold it into a neat square on her lap.

“Well?” Marisol whispered. “What did the Eastern Oracle say?”

“Pompous sack of…” David grumbled under his breath. Abby placed her hand on his arm and gave him a warning look. He glanced at Abby, sighed, and turned to Marisol. “He insulted Cael, my mother, my father, Nerine, and by proxy, pretty much everyone else associated with me. Then, he suggested I give up my
little
war and establish a system of glorified prostitution to solve
my
problems. I honestly don’t know what I should be most offended about.”

Jon let out a low whistle. “Wow. Super classy.”

“I wouldn’t call the courtesan law prostitution,” Abby said quietly.

David turned to look at her. “It
is
though. Maybe not in the traditional sense of the word, but they
are
selling their bodies to the Kruorumbrae.”

“As food,” Abby clarified, looking from Marisol to Jon.

“Yes, as food,” David said, disgusted by the thought. “Although who knows—why stop there?” He shrugged angrily. “And then, to mark them with the Sign of the Throne? The oracle has twisted a sacred symbol into something perverse. What I really don’t get is why the courtesans do it—why would they voluntarily let those things feed on them?”

“Maybe they
don’t
have a choice,” Abby replied. “Maybe that courtesan was coerced into saying he choose it of his own free will. Or maybe he’s doing it to protect his family. I would.”

“You wouldn’t if I had anything to say about it,” David growled, his hands clenching into fists again. He stared at them as if they were foreign objects sitting in his lap, some distant manifestation of the anger and frustration boiling within him.

Abby covered his hands with hers, studying his face. He looked up into those beautiful cerulean eyes that he loved so much, and uncurled his fingers, taking her hands instead.

“I would if it meant protecting
you
,” she said. “Is that really all that different from the time I protected you from Calder?”

David nodded. “Yes, Abby, it is. Calder was trying to kill us, and he almost succeeded. It was a life or death situation. But that’s my point—it never should have come to that, nor should it come to
this
. These people shouldn’t have to sell themselves to protect their families. They shouldn’t have to live in fear.”

“At least we know where the oracle stands now,” Abby
replied. “He drew his line in the sand.”

“There’s that, I guess.” David sighed heavily—his meeting with the Eastern Oracle had been brief but draining, and he felt exhausted. He saw Abby’s eyes widen with concern so he
managed a weak smile. “Did you pick up on anything else from him? Anything about Tierney?”

Abby shook her head. “No, nothing. Except what we already suspected, that there’s something he wants to keep hidden. I think the Eastern Oracle all but confirmed that with the way he was baiting you. It was like he was trying to make you angry so you wouldn’t see what’s really going on.”

“Yes, I think so,” Cael mused, talking to himself more than anyone else. David looked at him, wondering what else Cael suspected, and why he was being so quiet about it.

The carriage began to move, and then lurched to a stop. Outside they could hear raised voices. Abby’s hand flew to her mouth—David grabbed her other hand and tried to calm the wild beating of his own heart.

“The Eastern Oracle commanded that I stay with our guests,” David heard Hedeon say. “That is what I am doing. Now, if you please—open the door.”

The guard grumbled something unintelligible, and then the door opened. Hedeon stepped inside, taking a seat beside Marisol. “Thank you,” Hedeon said to the guard. “Now, please take us to the Hall of Solas Beirs.” The guard closed the door, and in a few seconds the carriage began to move once again.

Hedeon bowed his head respectfully toward the Solas Beir. “I beg your pardon for intruding, Your Majesty, but I would have a word, while I can.”

The Solas Beir’s gaze was intense, guarded. “All right,” he said. “We’re listening.”

“First, I am sorry about what happened in court,” Hedeon began, keeping his voice low so he would not be overheard by the guards outside. The rolling wheels of the iron carriage were loud on the pavers
. He hoped they would mask any sounds within the cabin. During the trip up the hill to the palace, he had been listening carefully from outside the carriage, and he had not been able to decipher the conversation within until the carriage had stopped. Still, it was best to whisper. “I know the meeting did not go as you wished.”

“You can say that again,” Jon muttered.

Hedeon looked at Jon and then back at the Solas Beir. “Second, I am not here to keep an eye on you,” he continued.

“You’re not?” Marisol questioned.