“I will give you my answer when I have come to a decision. Damin; demon child.” She bowed politely and left the Solar.
Damin turned to R'shiel, shaking his head. She met his look, puzzled by his expression. “
“I was just thinking how well you manipulate people, R'shiel.”
“You sound like you don't approve.”
“I never said I didn't approve. I just can't handle never knowing what you're going to do next.”
“You might find it's better that way,” she suggested with the ghost of a smile.
Damin doubted that, but decided against pursuing the matter. “R'shiel, do you see Dacendaran much?”
“I haven't seen him since we left the Karien border.”
“Can you speak to him?”
“I suppose.”
“Can you ask him if anyone has been interfering in his followers?”
“If you want. Why?”
“I'm not sure. I just heard something that bothers me a bit, that's all.”
“I'll ask him if you think it's important.”
“That's just it,” he admitted. “I don't really know if it is, or not.”
CHAPTER 14
R'shiel would have liked to explore Krakandar, but her status as the demon child was a significant obstacle. She had naively hoped that her identity could be kept secret until they reached Greenharbour. She'd had a vague notion that she would confront the Council of Warlords, tell them to behave because she, the demon child, commanded it, find the secret to destroying Xaphista in the Collective's archives, then return to Medalon with a Hythrun army at her back. The chances of that happening now seemed remote. It had not occurred to her just how much the legend of the demon child meant to these pagans, or how much Damin planned to exploit it. The news had spread and a crowd had gathered outside the gates of the inner city, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Although raised as the daughter of a Quorum Member, R'shiel had never been the subject of public speculation before and she found it extremely disconcerting. Her status as a Novice, and later a Probate in the Sisterhood, had meant she had led a fairly normal life, such that it was, until circumstances and her own rebellion had conspired to forever change its course. She was not trained to deal with being a public figure, at least not on this scale.
It was Adrina who came to her rescue. Born and bred to be in the public eye, she seemed to know what to do without thinking about it. In fact, she seemed quite determined to teach R'shiel everything she could - as if it gave her a purpose in life, other than avoiding her mother-in-law.
Thinking of Adrina made R'shiel think of Damin. Now that she had met his mother and sister, she understood what fascinated Damin about Adrina. He had grown up surrounded by intelligent, powerful women, and Adrina was everything he admired. Of course, he was too dense to realise it, just as Adrina was too stubborn to admit how she felt about Damin. The pair of them made R'shiel want to scream with frustration. But at least they were doing what was required of them, and if they were too pig-headed to work out how they felt about each other, that was their problem, not hers.
A knock at the door was a welcome diversion from her woes. She called out a command to enter and was startled to find that her visitor was Princess Marla. R'shiel leapt out of her chair as the Princess swept into the room.
“You are comfortable here?” Marla asked, glancing around the room to ensure that everything was as it should be.
“Very comfortable, thank you, Your Highness.”
“We must talk, demon child. I have many questions for you.”
R'shiel nodded, unsurprised. She'd been expecting this ever since she had spoken to Kalan.
“Of course. Won't you have a seat? I can order some refreshments if you wish. Mikel!”
The boy appeared from the next room at her command. “My Lady?”
“Fetch us some wine, Mikel.”
The boy bowed awkwardly and hurried from the room. R'shiel turned back to the Princess who was staring at her suspiciously.
“I won't be drinking wine with you, my girl,” she announced. “I plan to keep my wits about me.”
“Water, then?”
“That will do.”
Marla seated herself beside the fire as R'shiel poured water from a silver pitcher into a matching cup for the Princess.
Winter in Krakandar was much milder than in Medalon, so the fire was banked low, more for the convenience of not having to light it later than from any real need for warmth. She handed the cup to Marla and took the chair opposite.
“So, what is it you wanted to ask me?”
“You are very blunt.”
“I was raised to speak my mind.”
“By the Sisterhood, Damin informs me.”
“That's correct.”
Marla did not look pleased to have her information confirmed. “So it's true then that you are Joyhinia Tenragan's daughter?”
“She fostered me. My real mother died giving birth to me.”
“I cannot understand how the Harshini allowed Lorandranek's child to be raised by their mortal enemies.”
“The Harshini didn't know of my existence until recently. When they did learn of it, they sent Brak to find me. I can see you're concerned, Your Highness, but imagine how I feel. I was raised to despise the Harshini. Nobody was more shocked than I was to discover the truth.”
“Yet you appear to have adapted well.”
“Out of necessity. Not by choice, I can assure you.”
Marla took another sip of water, studying R'shiel over the rim of her cup. “And so, having accepted who you are, you have decided to meddle in the internal affairs of every nation on the continent.”
“There's no point in being half-hearted about this,” R'shiel pointed out with a faint smile. “I'm supposed to destroy Xaphista. I can't do that without affecting anyone else.”
“And this marriage? How did you get Damin to agree to it? Did you ensorcel him? Did that Fardohnyan woman?”
“Damin might be under Adrina's spell, Your Highness, but it has nothing to do with magic.”
“It's obvious he's under some sort of spell!” Marla snapped. “He is beyond reason where she is concerned. I have never seen him so intransigent over a woman. He insists that she will one day be the High Princess of Hythria.”
“And so she shall.”
“The Warlords will never accept a Fardohnyan.”
“They will, in time.”
“We may not
