Chapter Six

By the time we’d eaten, night had closed in around us. I heard a distant howl of wolves, but I wasn’t scared. Not tonight.

We settled to sleep inside the shelter Axxon and Vashri had built, while Fon shifted the fire close to the entrance for warmth and to ward off any animal predators or malicious sprites brave enough to come close. Vashri opened his pack and fetched out a blanket for each of us. Essa and I lay to sleep with the kings on either side of us.

Once more, that now familiar sense of security swept over me. I was safe with these men, safe in a way I hadn’t felt since I was a child. We had a huge and difficult job ahead of us, but I didn’t doubt we would do what was needed, defeat the Emperor and return Charnrosa to peace. I was only sorry that Ma and Pa wouldn’t be there to see it.

I wrapped my blanket around me and closed my eyes, snuggling close to Essa’s warm body, Axxon behind me.

Only for the Emperor’s grinning face to appear behind my eyelids, his arm sweeping through the air as he cast the spell that killed my father. I jolted as blood flooded my memory, my eyes flashing open to stare into the blessedly empty darkness.

“Here,” a low voice murmured behind me and Axxon reached forward, his arm spanning my waist, drawing me towards him so my back settled against his chest. I felt the movement as he took a deep breath. “Peace, Kyann.” His voice was soothing, calming. And being held by him was as comforting as I’d imagined. I closed my eyes again, but no nightmares appeared. My mind was filled with the touch and scent of Axxon. “We will keep you safe,” he promised.

I leaned back against his warm strength and let my breathing slow, following the guide of the rise and fall of his chest. Serenity stole over me, along with the certainty that I was safe and no harm would come to me.

~

It was obvious to see when we crossed out of the forest into the cultivated lands of the Baloa family. At least, what was most obvious was that they had supported the losing side in the rebellion. Even eight years later – or perhaps because it was eight years later – the Emperor’s displeasure was clear.

The fields around Myledene had been full to bursting, barley burnishing golden beneath the June sunlight, while roots and leaf crops crowded their rows, soon filling the gaps made as villagers removed what they needed for their meals.

Here, the lands looked neglected, the crops stunted and so sparse it was obvious the harvest would be a poor one.

We passed several villages on the main road and each looked run-down. The houses needed repairs, while the people working in the fields looked as though they couldn’t remember the last good meal they’d eaten. They were hollow-eyed and dull-skinned, their gazes following us as we trotted past towards the castle that rose on a hill in the middle of the Baloa lands.

The Baloa family’s ancestors had chosen well in siting their home. The stone castle was built on the top of the only high spot for leagues around and surrounded by a wide moat. There was no way to creep up unexpectedly, so it was as well we weren’t trying to hide our purpose.

By the time we reached the moat, the gate on the other side of the drawbridge was crowded with armed soldiers. They were ready for us, although the drawbridge remained lowered so we could cross, suggesting that the family didn’t see a worrying threat in six people arriving on the backs of deer. I glanced at the kings, whose gazes were intent on our destination. I wondered whether we were right to be walking so confidently into the home of people who might prove to be our enemy. We were launching another rebellion against the Emperor, after all.

“The Tears of Geira is here.” Rey’s tone was threaded with excitement. His gem, the one of the four allied to water. He caught my eye. “I can sense it.”

“Good. This should be a brief stop,” Vashri said.

We dismounted this side of the moat. Axxon muttered a few words and the deer turned, galloping back towards the forest.

A second later, the whoosh and snap of a bowstring sounded and the rearmost deer fell, an arrow protruding from its flanks.

Axxon’s jaw tightened. It was a poor way to thank the animals who had helped us.

A second arrow put the struggling animal out of its misery. I looked up to the top of the castle and found the archer. A girl, her age somewhere between me and Essa, and finely dressed. I wasn’t surprised when I heard her call to the men facing us, “Someone fetch that.” One of the soldiers walked across the drawbridge. We parted to give him way. The girl turned her attention to us. “Thank you for the gift. That will ensure we eat well tonight. I bid you welcome to Castle Baloa.” She swept an elegant curtsy.

The kings gave a brief bow, Essa dropped a curtsy and I echoed the gesture. I pushed away my dislike and walked over the wooden planks into the stone castle. The girl owed nothing to the deer – and she was right; it would provide a feast, and I was quite sure these people didn’t feast often.

By the time we’d crossed beneath the curtain wall, the girl – I presumed the daughter of the house – was waiting for us at the top of steps up to the keep.

“I am Leea Baloa, daughter of Lord Gern. If you come in peace, you are welcome to tarry a while.”

I scanned her face. I was sure I hadn’t met her before, and yet there was something familiar about her. I shook myself. There was no reason for any member of the Baloa family to have visited Myledene. And I was quite sure I would remember if she had.

“We come in peace,” Rey assured her. I wasn’t sure that was entirely true, but we had nothing against this girl and her family. Or not yet, at least. “And we will be grateful for your hospitality. We have a matter of great importance to discuss with the head of the Baloa family. Are your parents within?”

Leea lifted her chin. She appeared younger than me, although I got the sense that, like me, she had been forced to grow up quickly. “They are not available. Your business must be conducted with me.”

A glance was shared between the kings. I stepped forward. She was young to be the head of the house, but youth was only a matter of years. “May we speak inside, Lady Leea? Our business is private.”

“Of course. Follow me.”

She led the way into a chamber that had doubtless once been great, but which had probably lost its grandeur long before the family had picked the wrong side in the rebellion. It was old-fashioned, and despite the warm sun outside, cold nipped at my fingertips. There was a wide fireplace piled high with logs, but it hadn’t been lit. Just for show, I guessed, because the family couldn’t spare the time or manpower to replace the logs while their people were starving.

Up close, Leea’s fine gown showed signs of wear. It had clearly been created from another – the absent mother’s dress cut down to fit the daughter, perhaps. Spots on the fabric were shiny with wear, although she conducted herself with all the poise of a queen.

Leea gave brief instructions to a servant, then took a seat in the grand chair beside the fireplace, indicating for us to be seated on the benches arrayed opposite.

Essa obeyed. The kings remained standing and I stood beside them to face Leea. “We shouldn’t need much of your time, Lady Leea,” Rey said. “We have simply come to take back an item held in safekeeping for us.”

Leea blinked and looked harder at the kings. “Held in safekeeping? I don’t know what you mean.”

“We are the four kings,” Axxon told her steadily. “We are seeking the Gems of Geira. We believe the Tears of Giera is here.”

Leea blinked again, and I was sure behind her calm expression she was thinking furiously. “The four kings?” she prevaricated in the end. “That’s a myth.”

“I thought so, too,” I said. “But here they are.” I glanced behind me to ensure the door was shut. “The Stalwart Emperor has destroyed the strength of Charnrosa. He cannot be allowed to continue to rob the land and its people of magic. The kings will stop him.”

Leea folded her hands in her lap. Had they been shaking before she’d done so? “I assume you have proof of this wild claim?” she demanded, adopting a bored expression.

The words had barely left her mouth before the kings acted. A bloom of fire burst from the fireplace at the same moment that the wooden arms of the chair sprang to life, twigs bursting forth to twist towards Leea. She jumped up, taking a step away from the chair, only to stop when a splash of water struck her face and a sudden gust of air tugged at her finely-arranged hair.

“Very well!” She held up her hands and the kings drew back their magic, letting go of their enchantments. “I believe you.” She reached back, holding the chair’s arm while she sank onto the seat. “I believe you are the four kings.” She looked up, recovering her composure. “But I regret that I cannot help you.”

Axxon stepped forward, power radiating from him. “If you do not hand over the gem, we will take it. We would prefer to settle matters peacefully.”

“I cannot hand over the gem.” She laughed bitterly. “Do we look as though we have jewels lying around? If we did, they would have been sold before now to enable us to provide for our people – or make repairs to the castle.”

Fon stepped forward, all trace of courtly pleasantries wiped from his expression. “If you have sold the Tears of Giera—”

Rey held him back. “They haven’t sold the gem. It’s here, I can sense it.”

Leea looked startled to hear that. She hadn’t heard the stories about the kings – or hadn’t paid attention if she had.

Rey took a pace forward, close enough to grab Leea if he chose. She shifted in her chair but kept her chin determinedly high. Rey’s gaze was intense. “The gem is no use to you. Hand it over and we’ll be gone.”

“You are attempting a coup against the Emperor. I cannot help you.” Distress flitted across her expression. “The Baloa family would not dare support you in that. We lost far too much last time to be willing to risk all again.”

“You can stay neutral, madam,” Vashri told her. “We only want the gem and then we’ll go. The matter will not concern you after today.”

“Not concern us?” Leea’s tone rose with scorn. “If you know where the gems are to be found, I am quite sure the Emperor also knows. What do you think he’ll do to us when he discovers we have helped you? We barely escaped with our lands before. He would take everything for another betrayal.”

“If we don’t fight the Emperor, we will all lose everything,” I told her, keeping my voice calm even though I wanted to shake sense into her. She was afraid. And scared people rarely made good decisions. “This is your chance to do the right thing,” I said. “And regain all you have lost.”

Her eyes darted aside, as though seeking an escape. All she found were the kings, facing her implacably. She recovered her composure and glared at her visitors. “Even if I wished to, I cannot help you. Yes, we were the safe-holders of the Tears of Giera. But my mother threw the gem into the moat years ago. It’s lost.”