Trial of Fire (72 page)

‘Don’t cry, Mother,’ he murmured, his own throat tight. ‘We’re fine. All of us. We’re fine.’

He felt her finally loosen her grip on him, then let him go to embrace first Micah, then Finnlay who had joined them, leaving Andrew to face his father. There was something in Robert’s eyes then that he’d never seen before. Though it was dark, there were torches lit around the camp, and plenty of lamps and flickering candles. The deep green of Robert’s gaze held him: Andrew didn’t know what to say, and was afraid that his voice would betray him. But Robert didn’t need words; he reached out and embraced Andrew, holding him as tightly as his mother had, and Andrew held him back.

‘Thank you,’ Andrew whispered. He would have said more, but he knew he didn’t need to.

‘Come,’ Micah interrupted them all. ‘I’ll go see if I can get Osbert to find us some more food. I think he was saving something for you. You must be starving.’

Robert greeted that with a laugh. ‘You have no idea.’ Then, without hesitating, he took Jenn’s hand, put his arm around Andrew’s shoulder and led his family towards the table.

*

There were drops from the last downpour still sticking to the diamond
window-panes. From inside the warm room, Aiden raised a hand to one of them, tracing its descent as it glistened in the new sunshine. For some reason, today the weather couldn’t seem to make up its mind. For most of the night, blustery showers had gripped the city, and then from dawn onwards, there’d been these short, sharp patches of rain, followed by an hour or more of clear, uninterrupted sunshine. Aiden looked up at the now-clear sky. Perhaps it was simply all the seasons coming out to herald a new era.

‘Do you think the weather will hold when he rides into the city?’ Godfrey brought two cups of brew into the study.

‘The people will come out regardless of the rain. They want to see him the first time he rides into his capital,’ Aiden replied.

Godfrey wrapped his hands around his cup, his gaze going out to the street below where people were already gathering. ‘But do they come to see their new King, or the man who gave him the throne?’

Aiden smiled. ‘Does it matter? Robert and Andrew will enter the city together, and this evening, before them all, we will place a crown on that poor boy’s head. After that, it won’t matter a damn who put him on the throne, only what he does with it.’

‘And the people will come out to see both of them, regardless of the weather,’ Godfrey said briskly and returned to the long table where they’d been working for the last few days. It was covered in piles of scrolls, papers, some books, tally sheets and various other things Aiden couldn’t possibly concentrate on right now. ‘What do you want to do about the smaller monasteries? Over the last year, income has dropped considerably, but Brome was so unpopular with the people, I’m sure some churches suffered because of that. Still, in the short term—’

Aiden moved away from the window and stopped beside the younger Bishop, placing his hand on Godfrey’s arm. ‘In the short term, we can leave this work for another day.’

Godfrey began to shake his head firmly, but Aiden squeezed his arm until he looked up. With a smile, he added, ‘I’ll grant you, I’ve only known Andrew a few months, but I think I can assure you he will not be the kind of tyrant King who will execute us for not having this work done before his coronation.’

For a moment, Godfrey blinked at him and then, abruptly, some colour appeared on his cheeks. Aiden let him go and instead wandered around the room a little, peering out of the windows on the other side at a different street, also full of people, and the noise rising up to the windows had an air of excitement to it.

‘Forgive me, Your Grace,’ Godfrey murmured eventually. ‘It’s just that—’

‘Forgive you?’ Aiden turned to face him. ‘For what? For holding fast against untold dangers? For keeping the faith? For having the courage to stand where so many others gave way? Please, Father, never underestimate the role you have played here, nor how important it was to our cause.’

Godfrey frowned. ‘I could have done more.’

‘Don’t worry, you still have your chance.’

‘How?’

‘Do you honestly think I’m going to be able to cope with all this work on my own? It’s seventeen years and more since I last set foot in Marsay; I’ve been either a prisoner or exiled for all that time. You know full well I can’t simply walk back into this position and be able to pick up—’

‘Of course, Your Grace, I never expected—’

‘And even if I could, there’s far more work available here than one poor Bishop can handle in a lifetime – which is why I have decided that, regardless of what protests you might make, I will not allow you to step down from the mitre.’ Aiden went on, deliberately ignoring Godfrey’s reaction, ‘Lusara is a great and mighty country. We have an enormous task on our hands undoing Brome’s mistakes, Kenrick’s tyranny – and on top of that, we still have to convince the people that sorcery is not the work of Broleoch himself! It’s time we had two bishops.’

‘But – but I—’

Aiden, purposely imperious, said, ‘No, I’m sorry, Godfrey. Nothing you can say will change my mind. Now, let us leave all this here and go and find something to eat. We’ll have to begin robing for the coronation soon, and then they won’t let us bring food near our robes.’

‘Your Grace.’ Godfrey’s face had regained its colour, and his eyes held a real smile. ‘You should not underestimate the effect your work has had on the people’s understanding of sorcery. They gather outside today because they’re no longer afraid of it as they once were. That was your doing.’

Aiden still found that hard to believe, so he put his cup down and frowned. ‘Well, you’ll have to stop doing that for a start.’

‘What?’

‘From now on, you will call me Aiden, and I shall call you Godfrey.’

‘My,’ came a voice from the door, ‘this is all very cosy.’

Aiden turned and immediately smiled in pleased surprise. ‘Finnlay? Micah? What are you doing here?’

Finnlay led the other man into the room, looking around as he did so, appraising the elegant furnishings. ‘I always knew you bishops lived in luxury. Now I see it was all true.’

‘You do know,’ Aiden folded his hands together, ‘that envy is a sin, don’t you?’

‘Pay no attention to him, Your Grace,’ Micah gestured. ‘He’s been doing that all day.’

‘So, er, what
are
you doing here?’

‘Oh.’ Finnlay finished his wandering and paused in the centre of the room, looking a little sheepish. ‘It appears we’re your escort.’

‘Escort?’

‘It was all Father John’s idea,’ Micah added. ‘He wants the entire Council waiting before the doors of the Basilica when Andrew and Robert ride up. Finnlay has papers, Father Godfrey, naming you officially as a member of his Council as well. We’re to go down together.’

Finnlay fished in his jacket for the documents, ‘There. Now, is there any chance of getting something to eat before we get started? Micah’s been up since before dawn making sure all his enormous family are quartered in the castle, and I’ve been running around after my daughters and haven’t eaten since yesterday. If I don’t get something soon, I’m going to faint some time between the procession and the coronation mass.’

Aiden didn’t answer him immediately; instead, his eyes remained fixed on Godfrey, and the way he turned the papers over in his hand without opening them. Then he gathered himself together and said, ‘Well, this is what happens when you let Father John organise the coronation. Come, I’m sure we can find some food somewhere.’

*

Andrew could still hear the noise from outside, but here, within the Basilica, it remained a soft echo, a reminder no more, of the music and laughter, the celebrations still rolling along the streets of Marsay. In all the years he’d lived here, he could never remember seeing anything so overwhelming. They had all worked hard to make the coronation something the people could be a part of. The Basilica doors had remained open all day, and the folk of Marsay had crowded in, making Andrew feel very small as the crown was placed on his head. But he’d looked up and seen his family – his parents – watching him, and he knew he was never going to be so small he would be crushed by the weight.

The cheering afterwards had been deafening; even now, hours later, the memory brought a smile to his face. But he kept his footsteps quiet as he made his way through the Basilica, listening carefully, allowing his still-new Senses to spread out before him. There was something delicious about creeping around this late at night, with nobody watching him and, for the moment, no responsibilities other than to celebrate attaining a throne he’d never desired.

But there would be a time later for such concerns. Right now, he had another mystery to solve. Not more than half an hour ago, he’d noticed his
parents had left the banquet table, along with McCauly, and it had required every ounce of his fledgling abilities to track them here. Now he held his breath as he heard voices from a tiny chapel beside the vestry. He crept closer, pressing himself to the wall, hoping his presence would not be noticed.

The voices became clearer; as he turned around the corner, he saw an altar, lit by a dozen candles. Bishop McCauly, his expression sombre, his voice low and rich, was signing the trium in the air over the two people kneeling before him. Though Andrew was close, he could scarcely hear the whispered words, but the ceremony was unmistakable: questions were asked and responses given, then McCauly signed the trium in the air once more and his face creased in a broad smile.

Andrew’s throat tightened as Robert got to his feet, bringing Jenn with him. There was just enough light to see the look in Robert’s eyes, and the answering expression in Jenn’s. And then he could see no more as Robert held his bride close and kissed her. With his heart pounding, Andrew slipped back into the shadows, no longer watching, but bearing witness nonetheless. A smile broke out on his face too, and he almost laughed aloud.

It was just like them to get married now,
after
he’d become King.

Still smiling, he slipped away, heading back to his banquet, his Council, his people and his country.

*

As McCauly made his way out of the chapel, Robert turned to Jenn, keeping her within the circle of his arms, delighting in how good it felt. ‘Are you sure about the Key?’ he asked her.

‘There’s nothing there. I keep trying, but whatever presence I used to Sense before has gone. It may grow again, I don’t know – but for the moment, it’s just a shell. And besides, it didn’t interfere with the ceremony, did it?’

‘I still find it hard to believe you actually married me. You put up such a fight for so damned long I really thought I would have to drag you, bound and gagged, before a priest.’

Jenn began to laugh softly to herself.

‘I had the men ready and organised, the plan laid. All I needed was just one more refusal from you and that would have been it.’ Robert paused, a small frown creasing his forehead, then he went on, ‘But then, for some strange reason I’ll never understand, you actually said yes. You can imagine my surprise, my disappointment: all that effort, all that organising – all for nothing. You gave in without a fight. Anybody would have thought you’d
wanted
to marry me. Hardly like you at all.’

‘Perhaps you don’t know me as well as you thought,’ Jenn said, grinning.

‘Oh, yes I do.’ With that, he pulled her to him. ‘I know you better than anyone in the world. Better than you do.’

She laughed again. Then her hands came up and cradled his face, her soft touch sending shivers down his spine. ‘My dear, sweet, darling Robert. I have something I must tell you.’

‘You don’t need to tell me, my love,’ he murmured, lifting a strand of hair from her forehead. ‘We’re Bonded, remember? I already know.’

‘How?’ she whispered, her eyes searching his face.

‘I felt you die, Jenny.’ Robert’s voice dropped low and he shook his head. ‘I felt you die and the demon with you. We are Bonded for life. I couldn’t miss something like that.’

‘I don’t understand how it happened.’

‘Nor I – but what can we do but accept it for the miracle it is?’

‘No miracle, Robert. You said it yourself to Andrew: our powers can’t hurt each other. How many times have you and I shielded each other, survived blasts that would have killed anyone else?’

‘Then it’s not a miracle,’ he said. ‘You know? I don’t care. I have you, and there is no more Prophecy. Our son is on the throne and Lusara is free.’

‘More than that,’ she whispered,
‘you
are free.’

‘As long as I am with you.’

Her eyes danced in the candlelight. ‘There’s something else I have to tell you.’

Feigning horror, Robert frowned. ‘What is it? Are you going to tell me you’re having my child?’

He could feel her laughter. ‘Well, now that you mention it, perhaps I am. No, actually, it was something else. Something important.’

‘Well, go on. If we don’t get back soon, people will start to talk and we can’t have that.’

She burst out laughing; the sound lifted his heart. ‘Oh, Robert, I love you.’

For a second, he thought he’d misheard. For another second, he thought he was dreaming. For a final second, he thought he might be delirious.

‘What?’ he whispered. ‘What did you just say?’

For a moment she concentrated on slipping her hands beneath the folds of his shirt.

‘Don’t do this to me, wife! After seventeen years, I think I deserve to hear it at least once more.’

In response, she touched his face. ‘Robert Douglas, Earl of Dunlorn, Duke of Haddon and father of my son, I love you. I love you and I will
always love you. And in case you’re still wondering, that’s the only reason I married you, you fool. Did you think I was after your money?’

Robert began to laugh, a rumble which grew from his belly, filling his whole body. He gazed down at her as if for the first time.

She was watching him gravely. ‘We should go back now and join the others. They’ll be wondering where we are.’

‘No.’ Robert said, ‘they won’t be wondering at all. I should think they’re all drunk by now. I don’t care anyway. For once, Jenny, you and I are going to do exactly what
we
want.’