“Russal won’t cause him harm, and Felip won’tcause Russal harm, but if we bring them together?”
“It will be too soon. They are in troubletogether, but I don’t think they’re in opposition.” She shook herhead and stared at the inked loops. “There is too much mixed up nowfor me to draw coherent meaning.”
“So Felip could be on Russal’s side.”
“I don’t know sides. It’s an impression thatthey share a similar direction.” Sybil straightened, her facedetermined. “Keep them apart.”
Kambry rubbed her temples. It didn’t help.“What about Felip’s mother? Are there any impressions of her thatfall into this tangled connection they have?”
“She is an opposing force.”
Kambry slid the sheet in front of Sybil andhanded her the quill after dipping it in the well. “I need to knowabout Maizalyn. Is she the woman that will betray me?”
Sybil huffed. “Of course she isn’t.”
“Why not?”
“For one to betray you, you must trustthem.”
“I was sort of counting on her being mybetrayer.”
“It is disappointing, I know.” Sybil pulledup one corner of her mouth.
It was a poor attempt at humor, but Kambryfelt the same odd need to laugh. “That leaves Lessa, Dorvea, LadyLaurents, my mother and you. This is not good.”
“Don’t you have other women you trust?”
Kambry closed her eyes. Who else was close toher? “Tia. Russal thought she committed treason when she was herebefore.”
“Another pawn of Felip’s.”
“No, she said it was his brother.”
Sybil leaned back. “I’ve never confirmed thebrother.”
“I think there’s a brother. He mentioned asister, too.”
Sybil scribbled large loops, but it lookedhalfhearted to Kambry. “Maizalyn would have had to have a secondson after she left, and he wouldn’t be King Loren’s.” She pausedand gave her scribbles an intense look.
“What do you see?”
“I told you. I don’t see anything.”
Kambry lay her hand on Sybil’s. Her grip onthe quill looked ready to break it. “When you focus on the circlesyou draw, what comes to you?”
“It helps me concentrate. The impressionsgrow clearer.” Pulling her hand free, she ran the dull tip in tightloops. “You, Lenar, Russal, Felip.” She paused and drew anotherloop. “Maizalyn and another woman.”
“That’s the lineup. There are no others. Whatabout the Laurentses? My parents, Tia?”
“There’s too many to separate.”
“Focus just on one. Lady Laurents. Just focuson her.”
Sybil drew a long breath and gazed at thepage which contained little space for further drawing. “She hatesher.”
“Who?”
“Maizalyn Nuss hates Lady Laurents.” Sybilraised her head and looked at Kambry, her eyes filled with dread.“We need to protect Lady Laurents.”
Kambry considered what sort of protectionthey could provide that wasn’t already in place. The last entranceto the passages! Russal and she had not closed it. Could that allowfor an attack? They may have locked the doors essentially, but onecould break down a wall if the desire was great enough or even setit afire. There were other ways to get to people, but limiting themwas key.
“What is the source of this hatred?”
“Maizalyn started out as Lady Laurents’ maid.Lady Laurents never stopped treating her like one, even after shebecame the king’s mistress. It was a distinct friction betweenthem.”
“Do you think she will attack Lady Laurentsagain?”
“She has already attacked her twice. Thefirst left Lady Laurents temporarily paralyzed from poison. Shenever fully recovered.”
So the cane was far from affectation orsimply a tool of an aged woman. Maizalyn had been the cause. Kambrymight be all that stood between Maizalyn’s next attack. She stood.“I have something to take care of. I’ll come back, and we’ll pursuethis more.”
“Stay here. This is the wrong course.” Sybilreach across the desk and grasped Kambry’s wrist. “Stay here.”
“What do you see?”
“I don’t see anything!”
Kambry yanked her arm free. “You know what Imean.”
“I can’t explain.” She crumpled theink-covered parchment. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Do you see me hurt?” Slapping the desk, shesilenced Sybil’s knee-jerk response. “I know, you don’t seeanything.”
“I feel you are striding into danger.”
“Can I handle it?”
Sybil swallowed and flattened the crumpledpaper. “I don’t know.”
“I believe I can.” Kambry took the threesteps to the door. “I’ll take a guard, and I won’t be long.” Sheimagined this was the test. Was Sybil her subordinate, or did Sybilintend to rule her queen?
“Kambry.”
She turned at the door and faced Sybil.
“Your connection with the king is alsounclear. I suspect deception.”
Guilt bubbled at the back of Kambry’s throat.It tasted bitter. “Have I deceived Russal?”
“Not telling him about Felip Covey findingyou in your parents’ quarters is not deception.”
“Russal is deceiving me?” Kambry refused tobelieve that.
“Or himself.”
“About what?”
“That he is the rightful king.”
“Isn’t he?” Or was an uncle the betterchoice?
“Kavin no longer provides the promise that heis. That could be Maizalyn’s means of gaining control. When Kavinis certain of its king and queen, no one can win against them.”
“Kavin’s uncertain?”
Sybil nodded.
Then what she planned could strengthenKavin’s faith in them both.
ChapterThirteen
Kambry was out the door andclosing it when she stopped to look back. Sybil waited at her desk,an unhappy look on her face, but she nodded agreement. A guardstood at the far corner of the hall and gazed at her, straighteningat once at her pointed glance. Kambry gave him a nod and headed theother way.
If she took a guard with her, she wouldn’t beable to open the door to the inner map room. She had to get thatlast access way closed off and make sure no one was in thepassageways. What if Maizalyn were outside the Laurentses’ cozyparlor? Or her parents were back from Gordy’s unaware there wassomeone just on the other side of a wall from them? Maybe theattacks in the maze were meant to let her and Russal know thatthose that mattered most were not safe.
The quickest way to the audience chamber wasthrough the main halls. She picked up her pace.
What if she used the last entrance to thepassages and got there by going under the audience chamber? No,they had locked all the rest of the access points. She wouldrequire an open window or door to the outside to have access toKavin magic to reverse their efforts. She turned the corner to findLessa standing beside a door.
“Your Highness, been visiting the
