“There are strange happenings in the northern states,” he said. “Though they be barbarians, the people of those lands are still children of God and must be protected from the temptations of their baser natures.”
Josey didn’t believe the explanation for a minute, but she kept that to herself. She wanted to know what was happening in the north as much as anyone.
“These,” the prelate concluded, “must be done before the people of Othir can regain their trust in the crown.”
Josey didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t believe the gall of the man to march into her palace and make such demands.
“Thank you, Your Luminance,” Hubert said. “Any assistance offered in these tumultuous times is gladly received.”
Josey glared at the back of her lord chancellor’s head, but she kept her mouth closed before she said something irrevocable. She continued to fume as Hubert kissed the prelate’s ring like a lapdog looking for a treat. When the ring was turned toward her, Josey looked up at the ceiling and pretended she didn’t see it. The view of the Church’s frescoes above her throne only served to worsen her mood. Fortunately, the prelate took the hint and turned away, leading his entourage out the doors. Josey managed to hold onto her temper. Just barely.
“We shall retire,” she announced to the hall. “Good day, my lords.”
She descended the dais, and Hubert fell in step behind her. Josey made it all the way to the hallway outside the great hall before she erupted.
“How could you?” she demanded, raising her fist like a weapon. Her temples were throbbing now, which only added to her indignation. “How could you smile in that pig’s insolent face and tell him we would consider his outrageous demands? You might not have any pride left, but you represent me when you stand in that court!”
To his credit, Hubert stood mute and took her assault. He did not flinch, nor did he argue. Finally, Josey ran out of invectives to launch at him. Then, as she stood panting in the middle of the corridor, with her bodyguards studiously looking away, Hubert made a solemn nod.
“If my service fails to satisfy-” he began.
“Don’t start that again!” she said. “Just explain what you were doing in there.”
“Protecting you, Majesty.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Yes, of course you were. I’m sorry, Hubert. I’ve just… got a lot on my mind.”
“No apology is required. I understand, and I think you’re holding up quite well under the circumstances.”
“Thank you.” She appreciated that. Sometimes she felt she was all alone in this huge stone palace. It was nice to be reminded she had friends close by. All of a sudden, she missed Anastasia.
He smiled, half shy and half roguish, and for a moment the old carefree Hubert stood before her. Then he cleared his throat and the mien of the lord chancellor fell back into place.
“We cannot afford to incite the new prelate, Majesty. Not with the streets in chaos. The Church could make things even more difficult.”
“How?”
“Some citizens have taken up refuge in the churches. The priests
…”
She began to see the problem. “They’re using this opportunity to say things. Things about me.”
“I’ve heard accounts of sermons about demons walking the streets and the end of the world.”
Josey glanced over his shoulder to the tapestries on the corridor wall. “And they blame these things on me.”
“Yes, Majesty. I could go to DiVecci and make your imperial displeasure known to the hierarchs.”
She wanted to let him go, with a hundred soldiers at his back. She would have liked that, but they couldn’t afford a confrontation now. Hubert knew as much, but the offer was kind. Josey winced as a sharp pain stabbed her forehead. She staggered, for a moment losing her balance. Hubert grabbed her by the arms.
“Majesty?” He looked to the guards. “Get the empress’s doctor. Hurry!”
“No,” she tried to say, but it came out in a whisper.
She felt queer, as if she had drunk too much wine and couldn’t find her balance. The hallway seemed abnormally warm all of a sudden. One horrifying thought shot through her mind. Have I been poisoned?
Cool wind rushed across her face as she felt herself being carried. She reached out to touch soft cloth. She tried to grab hold of it and pull herself up, but her fingers wouldn’t work. Her world drifted into darkness.
Caim, they’ve killed me. Caim, come back…
The darkness closed around Caim. Here, nothing existed. No pain, no sorrow. Only the dark, and the solace it brought.
A spell of vertigo twisted his insides as he was spat out into the frigid night. A mountain of white flashed before his eyes as he fell. The warm body in his arms started to slip away, but he grabbed tight onto her as his shoulder hit the ground hard enough to make him grunt. Cradling Liana against his chest, he felt the cool cushion of snow against his face.
He opened his eyes with care. They were lying between several evergreen trees. The night sky turned above them, the light from a handful of stars painful to his eyes. He exhaled the breath he’d been holding. I guess it worked.
He hadn’t been sure it would. The first and only time he’d tried to transport himself through the shadows had been on the roof of the palace in Othir while fighting Levictus. He didn’t know how he did what he did, but it worked. And now again, as easy as falling off a mountain.
Caim blinked as his eyes recovered from their sensitivity. His body ached all over, like he had been sewn up in a canvas bag and beaten with clubs. But after a few deep breaths the strength began to return to his arms and legs. Moving slowly, he laid Liana flat on the ground and slipped his arm from under her. She didn’t appear to have suffered any further injury from the abrupt nature of their transportation.
The snow came to his knees as he stood up. Trees extended all around them for as far as he could see through their branches, save in one direction-east if his bearings were right. There, a gentle slope allowed him a view of a great expanse of woods extending to a broad, white plain. In the distance loomed the gray walls of the city. It must have been eight or nine leagues away. Not quite where I was aiming, but it could be worse.
But now he had to decide what to do next. Where should they go? Back into the city was out of the question. The streets would be crawling with patrols in force. That left either heading to the old manor house where the outlaws had originally convened, or remaining here and hoping someone found them before they froze to death. Neither option did much to raise his spirits.
Caim knelt beside Liana in the snow. Her eyelids fluttered as one of her hands came up to her head. He caught it before she touched the injury.
“Easy,” he said. “You’ve taken a nasty hit.”
Liana focused on his face, and for a moment Caim was taken to another time and place, only he had been the one on his back, opening his eyes to see someone leaning over him. They’re nothing alike, Josey and this girl, and yet…
Biting back on feelings he didn’t want to dwell on, Caim helped her sit up.
“What happened?” she asked. “Where’s Keegan?”
“We’re safe, a few miles from the city. And Keegan is with the others.”
She looked around, then winced as the movement tugged at the wound to her head. “I don’t see anyone.”
“No, we’re alone.”
Should he tell her how they’d gotten here? Better not. She’d probably run off screaming through the woods.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s okay. But we need to start moving.”
She was shaking. Caim wrapped his cloak around her and started to pick her up, but she reached out to stop him.
“I can walk.”
“Be still,” he said, a little gruffer than he intended, but it worked.
