The Ursuper cokrk-3 Read online

  With a certainty that went core-deep, she knew this was not a dream. Her Affinity was trying to warn her. Palatyne was about to break into Isolt's chamber.

  Barefoot and terrified, Piro ran to open the door to Isolt's bedchamber. The shadow of a broad-shouldered man appeared on one of the balcony doors.

  Piro scrambled onto the bed to shake the kingsdaughter, whispering fiercely, 'Isolt. Wake up. Palatyne's trying to force the balcony doors.'

  'What?' Isolt was instantly alert. 'What trickery is this?'

  'No trickery.' Piro pointed to the balcony, where Palatyne's form was silhouetted against the starlight. The catch rattled. Her breath caught in her throat.

  Isolt gasped, rolled out of bed and ran through to the next room, with Piro at her heels. Isolt tugged on the door to the corridor. When it refused to open, she gave a little moan of fear and frustration.

  'Locked!' She thumped the door. 'Guards!'

  The guards did not respond.

  Piro was not surprised. 'The Utlander said he'd dealt with them.'

  The foenix raised his head to give a querying call, feathers ruffled, foreleg lifted to strike. But he was only a juvenile and his spurs hadn't grown yet.

  'Oh, good boy.' Piro ran back and scooped him up. Under her hand his heart raced with fear.

  A soft tinkle of broken glass told them Palatyne had given up trying to force the door and had broken the pane instead. The hinge on the balcony door squeaked.

  Isolt cursed and glanced to Piro.

  'Where can we hide?' Piro searched the room, illuminated by the faint glow of the banked fire. Behind the couch? Too obvious. Under the bed? Again too obvious.

  'I know.' Isolt tugged her arm, dragging her over to the writing-table nook which was walled on three sides by bookshelves and illustrations.

  Isolt swung a large framed map of the known world aside. Behind it was a waist-high dark gap. She shoved Piro forwards. With the foenix in her arms Piro was off balance and hit her toe on the bottom lip of the opening. Biting back a yelp of pain, she crawled on her knees into the darkness until her forehead hit the back wall. A bolt hole. Her mother had described such things in stories.

  Piro turned around, pressing her back to the wall, hugging the foenix to her chest. He seemed to understand that they must be quiet. Isolt had climbed in after her and now pulled the map down, hiding them. It was dark, but for a faint glow which came through the map's fine vellum. Piro could see Isolt only as an outline as she sat hugging her knees.

  Neither of them made a sound. They hardly dared to breathe. Piro's toe throbbed in time to her heart beat. If a stubbed toe was the worst she got out of this night, she'd count herself lucky.

  There was no noise for such a long time, the temptation was to venture out.

  After a while, they heard a muffled exclamation and a golden glow appeared on the other side of the map. Palatyne must have lit a branch of candles to search for Isolt. He strode around the room, slowly at first, his boots hardly making a sound, then more loudly as he realised the kingsdaughter wasn't present.

  He left the room, returning to Isolt's bedchamber.

  In the dimness, Piro felt for Isolt, her hand coming to rest on the kingsdaughter's knee. She squeezed. 'Don't move. It might be a trick.'

  Isolt's hand covered hers to return the pressure.

  They waited. Piro counted to twenty-five, then the glow came back. This time there were two sets of footsteps.

  Isolt's eyes were dark pools of fear as she stared across as Piro. Who? she mouthed. But Piro had no time to reply. She tensed as she felt the foenix shiver with fear and hunch down even further in her arms.

  'See? Empty. I told you I searched all Isolt's chambers. Where else could she be?' Palatyne demanded.

  'The kingsdaughter must be here. My spies did not see her leave,' the Utlander insisted. 'She's hiding.'

  Isolt's hand closed tightly over Piro's.

  'I've looked,' Palatyne snarled. 'By the fires of Mulcibar, why couldn't the little bitch agree to marry me!'

  'She'll agree quick enough once you've had her. Now hold your tongue and give me the candles,' the Utlander snapped. 'I'll soon find her.'

  Mouth dry, Piro met Isolt's eyes. She felt sick to her stomach. The Utlander was sure to find them using his Affinity. And then Palatyne would rape Isolt, claiming her for his own. It was the way of the Utlands, and the spars weren't much better.

  Silence stretched. The air grew heavy and oppressive with Affinity. Piro's teeth ached.

  'Well?' Palatyne demanded.

  'She's here somewhere, all right. Her essence is still on the air.' The Utlander was hatefully pleased with himself.

  Piro caught her breath, then remembered to let it out silently. The glow grew stronger as the renegade Power-worker walked slowly across the room, drawing nearer.

  The Utlander must not find us Piro prayed. He must not. It became a litany in her head. She remembered hiding in the loft over the stables while Byren and Fyn looked for her last midsummer. They never found her, not even when they glanced into the loft. She'd willed herself unremarkable.

  The glow grew brighter and, for a heartbeat, she saw the Utlander's thin arm silhouetted against the vellum. In her mind's eye she saw him triumphantly pull the map aside, saw Palatyne drag Isolt out by her hair.

  No. It would not happen.

  It would be just like in the stable. They would pass over her. Piro concentrated all her will, harnessing her Affinity as she stroked the foenix. She and Isolt weren't even here. They were hiding in the stable back home.

  'Well?' Palatyne repeated.

  The Utlander sniffed. 'Strange, I smell horses.'

  'Horses in a royal bedroom? Your Affinity's playing up.'

  'More like someone else's Affinity is playing tricks on mine,' the Utlander muttered. 'A curse on Dunstany. I cannot sense her at all now. He's put some sort of protective ward over the kingsdaughter.'

  'Dunstany is on the other side of Merofynia at his estates. He could not know I planned to seduce Isolt tonight. No one but you and I know.'

  'Someone with Affinity has warned her. The bird has flown the coop.'

  'I thought you said you sensed her essence,' Palatyne countered.

  'Well now all I sense is horse shit!' The Utlander snapped. 'We've been out-manoeuvred. Someone knows about us. They could be on their way right now, or… worse. I don't recognise the style of this Power-worker. They may have left a trap.' His voice rose. 'We've got to get out of here, now!'

  'A trap?' Palatyne echoed. Piro could hear the fear rising in his voice. 'I won't be tainted by Affinity. Come on.'

  The glow faded as they returned to Isolt's bedroom, presumably to climb over the balcony.

  But Piro and Isolt sat in the dark, knees wedged together for a long time. Every now and then a shiver ran through Isolt. Gradually, the foenix's body relaxed and Piro felt him vibrate with the cat-like purr that meant he was happy.

  She cleared her throat. 'I think they've gone.'

  Isolt nodded. Shuffling onto her knees, she moved one side of the map a little and peered through.

  Meanwhile, Piro quested with her Affinity-enhanced senses. The room felt empty and, now that the crisis was over, she trembled with exhaustion.

  'I think you're right,' Isolt whispered. She lifted the map aside and slid her legs out, dropping to the floor.

  Piro followed her, the sleeping foenix in her arms. He seemed as exhausted as she was. Limping a little due to her sore toe, she put the foenix in his basket then crept across to the entrance of Isolt's bedchamber. The balcony doors were closed. Only the broken glass panel was evidence of Palatyne's treacherous plan.

  Isolt stood in the doorway.

  'They've gone, but I can't sleep in here.' Isolt closed the door to her bedchamber and wedged a chair under the knob.

  'I don't think they're coming back,' Piro whispered. She felt dizzy, and flecks of light danced in her vision. 'I have to sit down. I think I might be sick.'

&n
bsp; Isolt drew her over to the daybed, propping a pillow behind her back and wrapping the silk-covered eiderdown around her. The kingsdaughter lit a branch of candles and made up a tray of sweet wine, fresh fruits and nuts from the side-board.

  Piro watched, her tired brain struggling to grasp the significance of this. But, when Isolt brought the tray over, her stomach revolted.

  'At least have a sip of sweet wine,' Isolt insisted.

  Piro took one mouthful, then another, nibbled some salted cashews and discovered she was ravenous.

  Isolt sat at the other end of the daybed, resting against the carved footboard, and watched her eat with satisfaction. 'You could have left me to my fate but you saved me, Piro.'

  'Of course.'

  'I misjudged you.'

  Piro shrugged as she peeled a honeydew melon, sucking the sweet pulp.

  'What? Aren't you going to make me sorry?' Isolt prodded.

  'No point,' Piro mumbled, mouth full.

  Isolt eyed her for a moment. 'The Rolencian court must be very strange — '

  'Strange?' Piro laughed. 'The Merofynian court is strange. Everyone holding their breath, too scared to say what they really think.'

  'So you understand why I doubted you? And you won't hold it against me?'

  Piro picked up another honeydew melon. 'These are very good. Want one?'

  'Yes.' Isolt gave the first genuine smile Piro had seen from her.

  As they ate, she studied Isolt surreptitiously. The Merofynian kingsdaughter licked her fingers and stared into the fire. She was still the same girl, beautiful as a porcelain doll, but the muscles around her mouth had relaxed. She looked somehow different.

  Her face was no longer a mask.

  Piro must have made some small sound because Isolt looked over to her. 'What?'

  'I'm glad I grew up with a mother who adored my father and three brothers, even if they loved to tease me,' Piro said.

  Isolt's eyes widened. 'You read my mind?'

  'No. I don't — '

  'You do have Affinity. Don't deny it.'

  Piro nodded. 'But not much. If I could, I would have saved my father.'

  'You are Affinity-born, just like Lord Dunstany. That's why he chose you for his slave.'

  'I suppose so.' Piro hadn't thought of it that way. She licked her fingers and took another sip of wine, her thoughts returning to what was worrying her. 'I don't think this setback will stop Palatyne. Marrying you will make him the legitimate king-in-waiting.'

  'After tonight nothing will convince me to wed him.' Anger sharpened Isolt's features, making her beauty more interesting. 'I'll tell Father how he broke in here and what he intended.'

  'Your father is afraid of Palatyne, for good reason. I fear you'll get no help from him. When was your betrothal to be announced?'

  'Spring cusp festival. He wanted to wed me on midsummer's day or sooner. But I can't marry him. I'd rather die!'

  'Better that he dies.'

  Isolt went very quiet. 'Palatyne is surrounded by loyal followers, plus there's the Utlander. Can you — '

  Piro shook her head swiftly. 'Lord Dunstany said my Affinity visions are triggered by nexus points, moments when events hang in the balance. Most of the time I can do no more than guess a card.'

  'Then I must run away. But they'll be watching me.' Isolt's frown cleared. 'I know. Every spring cusp I go to Cyena Abbey to receive the offering for the festival. I'd planned to leave in a few days anyway. I'll leave tomorrow. The abbess will give me sanctuary. She's very powerful. Palatyne will not dare invade the abbey to take me by force!'

  Piro considered this. 'Normally you should be safe behind the abbey walls, but what if the king demands your return? An abbess cannot refuse a king.'

  'Then I will renounce the world and become a nun. A king cannot command the goddess!'

  Piro laughed softly, then sobered. 'When you are safe with the abbess, you must free me.'

  'I free you now.'

  Piro gasped. 'Just like that?'

  Isolt nodded.

  'Then I misjudged you,' Piro conceded. 'Back home, they said you were like your father, cunning, not to be trusted…'

  Isolt sat forwards. 'Oh, Piro. I'm not — '

  'I know.'

  'I'm not like Father at all. I'm more like Mother, but she was weak. I'm not.' Tears glittered in Isolt's slanted black eyes. 'I'm strong. And, if I've become hard and cunning, it's because I've had to.'

  'To survive.' Piro nodded. That made sense. 'But you can't free me yet. Not officially. I can't leave you suddenly. Palatyne would be suspicious. I'll stay with you until we reach the abbess. All I ask is passage on a ship to Rolencia.'

  'You have it.' Isolt hugged her knees. 'When he came in here with that evil-smelling Utlander… I've never been so afraid in my life. Without your Affinity…'

  Piro nodded. She tried to hold back a yawn and failed. Now that she had eaten, she wanted nothing more than to fall asleep.

  Isolt smiled. 'Sleep, Pi- Seela. I'll keep watch.'

  Piro snuggled down, marvelling how her position had changed from slave to trusted confidante in just one day.

  Dunstany had been right. Isolt was the innocent pawn of her father, King Merofyn. Piro had to let the noble Power-worker know Isolt's plans. They would pass his mansion on the way out of Port Mero. She could leave a message there. The sooner they were out of the palace and beyond Palatyne's reach, the better.

  Byren woke to find his back felt cold. Where had Orrade gone? He sat up. The cave's ceiling glowed with reflected light from the snow outside. And it was silent, other than the snores of his honour guard and the several monks. After filling Catillum's cave, the newest arrivals had taken up residence in this one.

  What if Orrade had felt another Affinity vision coming on? The monks would report it to the mystics master and his best friend would be unmasked, forced to leave Rolencia, just when Byren needed him most.

  Whatever the cost, he had to protect Orrade. Heart thudding, Byren rolled to his feet, slinging his cloak around his shoulders. Carefully, he stepped over the sleeping bodies that were packed tight as a litter of puppies. It was like this in all the caves.

  With his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cave, outside the starlight seemed bright. He blinked and lifted his head, listening, smelling the crisp mountain air.

  'Over here,' Orrade's voice reached him, no more than a whisper.

  He headed that way and found his best friend just around the bend in the trail, wrapped in his cloak.

  'What's wrong? Is it — ' Byren broke off, not wanting to speak of Orrade's Affinity when one of the monks might step outside to relieve himself and overhear them.

  Without a word, Orrade turned and strode up the path. Byren followed. As they passed Florin's cave Byren glanced in, but it was too dark to see anything. Soon they left the caves behind and came to a spot where they would not be overheard by any lookouts.

  Orrade turned to confront him. 'I didn't ask for this Affinity. I don't want it, I'd rather not…' He broke off and let his breath out in a rush. 'No, that's not true. It's been useful. I wouldn't have found you in that seep if I hadn't had the vision.'

  'I'm sorry, I didn't know asking the seer to heal you would trigger Affinity.' No, but she had warned him Orrade would never be the same and he'd been too selfish to consider what this meant.

  Orrade brushed his apology away. 'You did what you thought best and I'd be dead if you hadn't.' He turned away, strode to a flat stone, jumped onto it and kicked heaped snow aside, then sat with his back to a rock, staring out into the night.

  Byren joined him. Shoulder to shoulder, arms resting across their raised knees, they stared out across the foothills. Amidst the pines, silhouetted winter-bare trees stood stark against the stars.

  'I won't leave,' Orrade said softly. 'When Dovecote fell, Father's people looked to me to save them. I was half-mad with grief…' He took a shaking breath. 'You know what it's like.'

  Byren nodded, unable to speak for the
lump in his throat. But his grief was mixed with a bitter dollop of relief. With Lence gone he no longer walked on eggshells, trying to appease his twin, trying not to offend him, unwilling to see the man his twin was becoming.

  Orrade rubbed his face vigorously, finally dragging his hands down over the wispy ends of his beard.

  Byren shifted on the cold hard stone. 'I told you, when I'm king I'll rescind Father's law. You won't — '

  'The abbeys won't like it. In the last thirty years they've grown in size. Every child detected with Affinity has been gifted to the abbey, along with a payment. Wealth and willing workers. How do you think the abbeys will react if you rescind your father's law?

  'Also, while Halcyon's monks and Sylion's nuns are the only source of Affinity knowledge and control, they have the ultimate power over seeps, ceremonies, Affinity beasts — both the dangerous and the useful — not to mention protection from foreign Power-workers. You can see why they don't want the ordinary folk able to take care of these things themselves.'

  Byren nodded, seeing why he needed Orrade's sharp mind. 'Although ordinary folk are glad enough to call on the abbeys for protection.'

  'They used to handle the small things, up to a renegade Power-worker or a seep, by calling on someone from their own community who had Affinity. Ever since Florin's grandmother told us how it used to be, I've been asking other old folk,' Orrade revealed.

  They lapsed into silence. Byren saw a shooting star and nudged Orrade. 'My wish.'

  His friend grinned. 'What do you wish for, Byren?' His voice dropped, growing serious. 'If you could have anything you wanted, what would it be?'

  Byren opened his mouth to say he wanted things back the way they were, Mother and Father alive, Piro and Fyn safe, Lence…

  The smile left his lips. 'An end to this war with Merofynia. Me, the kind of king Rolencia needs. You, happy and safe from persecution.'

  When Orrade said nothing, he glanced to him, noticing the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes.

  'Orrie?'

  His best friend shook his head and lifted his hands so that they hid his face. When he spoke his voice was the barest scrape of sound. 'Go back to bed, Byren.'

  'I've offended you.'

  'No.' His hands dropped and he stared away, so that all Byren could see of him was the line of his lean cheek and jaw, lightly dusted with a wispy black beard. 'No, you haven't offended me, quite the opposite. But you don't want what I want. And tonight I can't pretend I feel only friendship for you.'