The Sworn (53 page)

Jonmarc exchanged glances with Gabriel. “Staden and Berry don’t need something like that, on top of the plague and everything else that’s going on. Everyone’s jumpy enough that a big disruption like that could do a lot of damage.”

Gabriel nodded. “I’ll alert my people in the city.”

“There’s more,” Thaine said. “The Black Robes think something big is going to happen. They were excited about it. They called it a War of Unmaking. The Black Robes said that there’s a new power, a dark summoner, who will help something they called an ‘ancient darkness’ rise again.”

“A dark summoner,” Jonmarc repeated. “Dark Lady help us.” He looked at Thaine. “Where is this dark summoner? Where will he come from?”

“Across the Northern Sea.”

Jonmarc swore and turned away. “It just keeps getting better.” He glanced at Gabriel. “Well, at least we know now why the Black Robes seemed so intent on getting into the barrows. They’re hoping to wake up whatever lives in there, bring it back in time for the war.”

Thaine met Jonmarc’s eyes. “So you’ll take the message to the king?”

“There’s just one problem with that,” Jonmarc said, grimacing. “Staden’s very ill. I’ve got a direct order from the king commanding me to guard Berry and to keep both of us here until he sends for us, or until he dies. Short of those two options, I’m not to set foot in Principality City until the crisis is over.”

“But you have to warn him!”

Aidane could feel Thaine’s panic. It rose as she realized that Jonmarc seemed to be reconsidering the message.

“How do we know it’s not a trap?” Jonmarc said, looking from Gabriel to Kolin. “The
serroquette
could have met Thaine anywhere. Maybe Thaine told the ghost whore her story. It doesn’t mean that she’s actually channeling Thaine’s ghost. How do we know it’s not a trick to get close to Staden or Berry?”

“Ask me anything,” Thaine said, and Aidane felt the spirit growing more desperate. “Anything. I
am
Thaine. And what I’m telling you is true.”

“Aidane’s gift with the spirits is real.” They all turned to look at Kolin. “She used it when we were escaping from the Nargi. And we saw her beset by spirits outside the camp where we found Thaine’s body.”

“Maybe she’s a gifted actress,” Jonmarc said, and a hard glint had come into his eyes.

He doesn’t want to believe
.
He doesn’t want to deal with me. Things are bad enough, without this.
Thaine was upset enough she was making Aidane breathe too fast. Aidane struggled not to become light-headed. Then she met Kolin’s eyes.

He knows my power is real
. Aidane wondered if Kolin
read the challenge in her eyes, and whether he would take it.

“She’s not acting.” Kolin hadn’t fed recently enough to blush, but he looked uncomfortable, nonetheless. “Earlier on the night that we found Thaine’s body, Aidane came to me in the crypt. She was possessed by the spirit of my long-dead betrothed, Elsbet. I, too, was skeptical. I’ve known too many
vayash moru
who were promised reunions by ghost whores who were nothing but frauds. But Elsbet has been dead for over two hundred years. There was no marker, no conversation to give Aidane any clues. No one in our party knew.”

Kolin met Aidane’s eyes. “No one knew the circumstances of Elsbet’s death except the two of us. Aidane recounted it exactly. She had Elsbet’s voice, Elsbet’s ways. She was Elsbet.” His voice caught, and he looked away. “Her power is genuine.”

Gabriel moved closer. “Taru and Carina are mind healers. They aren’t telepaths, but they can sense power and read memories. They could validate whether or not her power and her message is real.”

Jonmarc passed a hand over his eyes. “Carina. How am I going to explain this?”

Jolie gave Aidane a hostile glare. “I have Thaine’s word that she didn’t come to make trouble.”

“Somehow, that’s not much comfort.”

The door behind them opened. Carina stood in the doorway. “Neirin said Kolin was here with Jolie. I wondered where you’d gone.”

Aidane felt Thaine’s surprise as she took a first look at Lady Vahanian. Carina was dressed in healer’s robes. She had dark hair, cut chin length, and intelligent, green
eyes. But there was no sign of rank or wealth, no jewels, nothing other than the green healer’s belt to indicate her status or position. She wore no cosmetics, nothing to enhance her appearance. And yet, when Aidane watched Jonmarc move toward Carina, it was apparent that he was completely smitten, and that the two cared deeply for each other. It was also very clear that Carina was nearly to term with her pregnancy. Thaine startled, and Aidane followed Thaine’s gaze to a thin, twisted scar on the palm of Jonmarc’s left hand.
Jolie said they were married. I thought a handfasting. But he’s made a ritual bond. That’s something I didn’t think he’d ever do.
And although Thaine was sincere in disavowing any interest in the lord of the manor, Aidane felt a twinge of pain.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Jonmarc said, taking Carina’s hand and leading her into the room. He stopped in front of Aidane.

Carina’s eyes widened. “You’re a—”

“
Serroquette
,” Aidane finished for her, in her own voice. Thaine had stepped back in her consciousness. “The spirit I’m carrying has an urgent message for King Staden. Lord Vahanian is right to be cautious, but we need to prove that the spirit is genuine, that the message is real. Please, Lady Healer, if you can use your power to verify that, I beg you, do whatever you must.”

Carina glanced at the necklace Aidane wore, the necklace Thaine had given her. She seemed to take in everything: the borrowed clothing, Aidane’s heavy Nargi accent, even the way Kolin and Jolie watched Aidane. If Carina sensed that Jonmarc was ill at ease, she did not let on.

“Will you open your mind to me?” Carina met Aidane’s
gaze with green eyes that seemed to see into her soul. For the first time, Aidane was afraid.

“Yes. Not just my mind, but the spirit I’m carrying.”

“Give me your hand.”

Aidane stretched out her hand, and as Carina took it, Aidane saw the match of the scar on Jonmarc’s palm that made a fine white line on Carina’s hand, the mark of a ritual wedding. Such a vow bound the lovers’ souls as well as making a formal commitment. Aidane had never known anyone sure enough of their choice to make a ritual bond.

Aidane felt a warm presence brush against her mind. It was different from the ghosts that possessed her, different from the way Thaine inhabited her. This warmth posed no threat. Aidane knew that Carina’s power had no desire to harm her or to take control, and Aidane relaxed. It was as if a balm soothed her mind, easing the memories of the beating, her capture by the Black Robes, and the near-possession at the camp. The memories remained, but their ability to hurt had been dulled. Carina’s touch was light, gentle, but Aidane knew its power. And while no words passed between them, Aidane was certain Carina could feel her own magic as a
serroquette
.

There was a shift, and Thaine’s spirit came to the fore. Aidane was content to withdraw, uncertain of Thaine’s reception. Thaine, too, was unsure, and Aidane could clearly feel the ghost’s fear. After a moment, Carina’s power drew back, and Aidane stood looking at the healer in a silence that seemed to last forever.

“Both Aidane and Thaine are what they seem to be,” Carina said finally. It was impossible for Aidane to read any emotion in Carina’s voice. What she thought of
Aidane as a
serroquette
or what she made of Thaine’s presence in her household, Carina gave no clue.

“Is Thaine telling the truth?” It was Jonmarc who spoke.

Carina seemed to consider her impressions from the mental touch, and then nodded. “Yes. At least, she believes it’s the truth. Thaine is afraid.”

“Damn.” Jonmarc began to pace. “Now what do we do?”

“Perhaps if you contacted Captain Gellyr, he could give her safe passage to Principality City, make sure her word reaches the king,” Carina suggested.

Kolin shook his head. “If the Black Robes get any inkling that Aidane is carrying Thaine’s spirit, they’ll try to kill her. Will Gellyr take the message seriously enough to protect her?”

Aidane knew that Kolin’s real question was different, and she shared his fear.
Will Gellyr bother protecting a whore?

“If the king is barely conscious, then he’s not going to be able to stop this threat personally,” Gabriel said. “I would not expect General Gregor to give Aidane a worthy hearing.”

“The Feast of the Departed is barely a week away. That’s not much time to find the traitors and stop the plot.” Kolin chewed on his lip as he thought, and despite the gravity of the conversation, Aidane smiled at how mortal the gesture was.

Jonmarc sighed. “I don’t see an option. I have no choice about staying here to protect Berry. Gellyr is our best shot, and perhaps he knows someone other than Gregor who would hear Thaine out. But we can’t send her alone.” He
looked at Kolin. “You’re not due to make another Nargi run for a while. Would you go with her?”

To Aidane’s surprise, Kolin nodded. “I’d just worked through the options and come to that same conclusion myself. Yes, I’ll go.”

Before the conversation could go further, there was a sharp knock at the door, and a man Aidane did not recognize peered from around the door.

“What is it, Neirin?” Jonmarc asked, distracted.

“Sorry to bother you, m’lord. But Captain Gellyr is here. He says it’s urgent.”

Jonmarc exchanged glances with Gabriel and Carina. “Is he alone?”

“Yes, m’lord.”

“Send him in.”

A man in the uniform of the king’s army stepped into the room. He held his helm under his arm. From his expression, Aidane knew something bad had happened. Even Thaine drew back, afraid.

“You’re always welcome in Dark Haven, but it’s rather late for dinner,” Jonmarc said, extending a hand to the officer, who clasped both hand and arm as if greeting an old friend.

Gellyr’s eyes held a deep sadness. “Once again, I’m afraid it’s not a social call. I came as soon as I received news.” He swallowed hard, and although he kept his composure, Aidane could see the struggle in his face. “King Staden is dead.”

C
arina gasped, and made the sign of the Lady in blessing. Jonmarc was silent, as he worked through the implications of Gellyr’s announcement.

“We’ll need to tell Berry,” Jonmarc said quietly.

Gellyr nodded. “I thought it might be best coming from you.”

“Can we take her back to the palace without risking her life?” Jonmarc asked. “If the plague is that bad—”

“It seems to have subsided from its peak,” Gellyr said. “That’s what I’ve heard. Staden survived the initial bout of it. He was a very strong man. But it went to his lungs, and that’s what killed him.” He met Jonmarc’s eyes. “Without a crowned monarch, Principality is vulnerable.”

Jonmarc drew a deep breath. “You have no idea.” He turned to Aidane and motioned for her to come forward. Gellyr’s eyes widened, just a bit.

“Aidane is a
serroquette
,” Jonmarc said matter-of-factly. “The spirit she’s harboring has a warning you need to hear. Carina has verified that the spirit is who she claims to be, and that she believes the message to be true.
I know this is… irregular… but please, you have to hear her out.”

Gellyr nodded. “I fear that in the next few weeks many things will be ‘irregular.’ Let the lady speak.”

Thaine came to the fore of Aidane’s consciousness, and once again gave her warning. Jonmarc watched Gellyr’s face as he listened. Doubt, concern, and mistrust all showed in his expression, but to the captain’s credit, he listened without interruption. When Thaine finished and Aidane stepped back, Gellyr shook his head.

“That’s quite a tale.”

Jonmarc nodded. “We’ve only just heard it ourselves, before you came. Kolin’s brought back another group from Nargi, and Aidane was one of the Black Robes’ prisoners.” He met Gellyr’s eyes. “You know the trouble we’ve had right here in Dark Haven with the Durim. I’ve been afraid they were after something big. A disruption on the scale Thaine’s describing would be bad under any circumstances—”

“But with the death of the king, it could throw Principality into chaos, right as a foreign invader comes to the northern shore,” Gellyr finished. “Damn.”

“You know Gregor won’t believe this,” Jonmarc said. His voice was level, but there was an undercurrent that made his dislike for Gregor plain.

Gellyr nodded. “Gregor is my superior officer, but my rank doesn’t close my eyes. He has many strengths as a military man, and many weaknesses.”

“Is there someone else who could help us? When I was in Principality last year, I was part of the war council that helped Tris put his strategy together. Staden gave us General Darrath, and a man named Hant, who Staden called his ‘chief rat catcher.’ Hant’s the guy we need.”

“Would he remember you?”

Jonmarc shrugged. “Maybe. Would he believe a ghost whore? Don’t know. Berry and I are going to be on thin ice—her, newly crowned, and me, a Champion people don’t know or trust. I’d rather not make Berry force her generals into something. But we don’t have time to cut through a lot of bureaucracy. Haunts is less than a week away.”