XXII

“I still can’t believe the king is dead,” Dell said as he put his hands on his hips.

Yoreno, Sorika and Dell were standing in an empty drawing room after the king’s funeral. Mai was not with them. She was still recovering from the wound she had taken during the attack.

Even though she had received magical healing, the event had only been three days ago, and now she was in bed, healing. Both the castle mage and the physician were optimistic that she would make a full recovery.

Even though her condition was good, she needed rest and was unable to attend the funeral. Many of the nobles and heads of royal houses had stayed, despite the fact that their host had been assassinated under their noses.

Even king Kaldwaine and queen Secily had remained.

Yoreno sighed. “What I don’t understand is how a group of assassins managed to get into the castle grounds undetected and kill our king!”

He looked up at the setting sun through the tall windows. Orange rays of light fell through the glass, making the dust motes visible as they fell silently through the air.

“You saw how they did it,” Sorika said. “They were assassins—experts at their craft.”

“Yeah,” Dell said. “Truthfully, I’m surprised they didn’t cause more havoc than they managed. We were completely unprepared.”

“That’s just it, though,” Yoreno said, feeling like a failure. “We knew there was a killer in the castle. We should have taken more precautions.”

“How many men did the king have with him? Twenty, twenty-five when they attacked?” Those are pretty strong precautions.

“He should have never left the main citadel.”

“Yoreno is right,” Sorika said.

“Hey, you’re supposed to take my side,” Dell said indignantly.

She shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Yoreno said. “He’s dead. They won and we lost. I just… I wish we knew why.”

“It matters,” Dell said. “Princess Neslyn is due to have her coronation ceremony tomorrow.”

“So quickly?” Yoreno asked. “How come I haven’t heard of this?”

“She’s not just having a coronation ceremony,” Sorika said. “Were you not at her speech?!”

Looking away, he muttered, “I couldn’t bear it.”

“Coward.”

“Sorika!” Dell chastised. “Yoreno has a right to feel distraught. He was there, when it all happened. I would feel guilty too, but Yor, it’s not your fault. You did everything you could. Everyone did.”

He nodded. “That’s what everyone keeps saying. So what is happening with Princess Neslyn?” Yoreno moved, sat down. He felt tired. He couldn’t sleep and it was catching up with him.

He was also worried about Dantera, he hadn’t seen her in days. Instead he kept getting excuses that she was too busy, but Yoreno knew that Kylen was covering for her. It was honorable of him, but Yoreno was her protégé.

“Right,” Dell said. He sat down too and so did Sorika before he continued. “The princess said that the Readventure festival would continue.”

“She’s adamant about continuing Branlin’s legacy of a new age,” Sorika said. She had never spoken so much since Yoreno met her. He knew both she and Dell were trying to make him feel better.

But it was actually making him feel worse. He didn’t want pity.

“I see,” Yoreno said.

“That’s why she’s being crowned so early,” Dell continued. “She wants everyone that came to Aevalin for the Age of Readventure to remain and watch her, and to continue along with her.”

“What of the assassins?” he asked. “Is anything being done to track and catch them?”

“Of course,” Sorika said. “The queen—I mean queen to be—has already sent out half a legion to track them down.”

Yoreno nodded.

Then after a time he finally got up. “You two enjoy yourselves. I want to check on Mai and Yorinius.”

“We’ll come with you,” Dell said.

“No,” Yoreno said. “We’ve already been to see them as a group. It’s fine.”

“All right.”

The hospital wing had quite a few more wounded than Yoreno had originally suspected. Both the Castle Guard and the King’s Guard wore a lot of armor. It was harder to kill them than most gave credit for.

Most ended up wounded on the field, unable to stand or fight and had been taken to the hospital wing. Many had been treated by the mages—the ones that could be saved from their most grievous wounds.

But the smaller wounds, broken legs, lacerations that, though sometimes temporarily debilitating but were not life threatening, were left to heal on their own. Those men had stayed in the hospital wing to recover.

The same went for Mai and Yorinius. Once they were out of danger, they were left to recover naturally. Yorinius and Mai both due to blood loss.

As he entered the wing a bright ray of orange sunlight shone into Yoreno’s eyes. He squinted as he walked further in, finding Yorinius sitting up in his bed and putting on his shirt.

“Ready to leave so soon?” Yoreno asked.

“What do you mean? I’ve been laying around in here for two days eating all manner of disgusting concoctions to replenish my strength.”

“Are you well enough to leave?”

“To leave,” he said, “yes. To fight? Not so much. But I’m going back to the Roaming Lions to make preparations for…” he glanced over toward Mai as she made sleep noises and turned. More quietly he added, “Funeral preparations for Cypia. I’ve already written and sent a letter to her family members both here and outside of the city.”

Yoreno nodded.

“Do not feel bad,” he said.

“Why not?” he asked. “She died on my watch, and so did the king.”

“These”—he grunted—“are new times for us all. We do not know the troubles that lie ahead. These assassins—they were no disgruntled peasants, Yoreno. You have to remember that. Both you and Dantera.”

“Dantera was here?”

He nodded. “She stopped by for a few minutes. She’s as dour as yourself. I don’t like to see her in this state. Neither of you—but especially her. Do what you can to knock some sense into her, will you?”

Yoreno frowned. “She’s usually the one to do that for me,” he said. “That’s… what she did on the Isle of Morr when we lost people.”

“And so she should take her own advice,” he said, slipping on one of his leather boots. “Both of you fools.”

Yoreno nodded.

“As I was saying,” he added, “These assassins that struck the castle, they were no run of the mill angry folk due to raised taxes or what have you. These were assassins—an organized group, bent on accomplishing their goals.”

“I hope we find out who they are.”

“So do I,” Yorinius said. “So do I.” He stood, then he turned and put a hand on Yoreno’s shoulder. “It is clear that Aevalin has a new foe.”

“We’ve always had enemies.”

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“This is worse,” Yorinius said. “We must prepare. We must stay strong—in both body and spirit.”

“You’re right, of course.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you think so.” He gave Yoreno a strong nod and shook his arm. “I’ll see you soon.”

Then he left the hospital wing.

Yoreno sat on one of the empty beds and sighed.

“Yoreno?”

He turned. It was Mai, sitting up in her bed. “Did you come to see me?”

Nodding, he said, “Yes. How do you feel?”

“Mmm—much better, thank you. Dell and Sorika told me about the princess. I hope I get to go to the coronation ceremony.”

Mai looked fine, but his eyes were drawn to her healing laceration that crossed her cheek. It would become a pale scar for certain. “If not, I’m sure they, along with your parents, will tell you all about it.”

She nodded with a smile. “Are you still troubled?”

“Somewhat,” he said. “But Yorinius just filled my head with a lot of his good sense.”

“He’s a strong adventurer,” she said. “I can’t imagine him ever giving up, even if things became impossible.”

“You’re right,” Yoreno said with a smile. He was actually starting to feel a lot better.

“But I’m worried about Dantera.”

“She did seem rather morose when I saw her,” Mai said. “At the time, I didn’t think much of it. We were all—are still—feeling sad about the king and Cypia, but after she left, I thought I should have been the one to comfort her, not the other way around. Are you going to go see her?”

Glancing out the windows, he scoffed. “If I can get passed Kylen.”

She nodded. “He means well.”

“He’s very loyal,” Yoreno said. “To a fault.”

“I’m certain you can outwit that old mustache.”

They laughed together.

“Are you trying to make me feel better?”

She had a thoughtful look in her green eyes. Then in her demure tone she asked, “Is it working?”

“A little bit. Between you and Yorinius, I think its good medicine.”

“Maybe we should all sneak into Dantera’s rooms and give her a talking to.”

“Maybe,” he said. “But it won’t be necessary. I’ll get by Kylen.”

She nodded, then paused, her hand going to her cheek where she gingerly touched the bandage there.

“Hey,” he said with a smile. “What’s an adventurer without a scar or two?”

She made doubtful face. “I just hope it’s not too bad when I take this off.”

“I’m certain it’ll be fine,” he said. “I saw your wound before they bandaged you. It was a clean cut, razor thing.

“Well,” she said with a smile, “that’s good, I guess. Go on, then. What are you waiting for?”

Taking a deep breath, he stood. “You’re right. I’ll go now.”

“Good luck, Yoreno.”

Her smile and the way she said the words reminded him of when he had first arrived at the Roaming Lions, when she had escorted him to Kylen’s quarters.

“Thanks,” he said.

Dantera was in one of the upper chambers in the north-facing turret. Thinking on the way up, he still wasn’t certain what to say to Kylen to get him to agree to allow Yoreno in to see her.

Yoreno strode down the corridor, most of the light gone from the day, and since the sun wasn’t shining from the north, it seemed darker here. When Kylen saw him, he cocked his head back.

“Again, Yoreno?” he asked. “So soon?”

“I need to see her.”

“I know you do, son. You’re her protégé. But she’s busy and will see you as soon as she’s able. I already told you I would notify you when she’s available for visitation.”

“Have you at least told her I came to see her?”

“Of course,” he said. “But as I told you before. She’s busy.”

“Master Kylen.”

“What is it, Yoreno?”

“Am I going to have to knock you unconscious to get through these doors?”

“You’re threatening me now?”

Yoreno glanced away, trying to assume an air of nonchalance. “Perhaps I can sneak past. I can wait until you need to use the privy.”

“Ha!” he scoffed. “Are you going to stand here and watch me guard this door for the next twelve hours, boy?”

Yoreno siged. There was no getting past this loyal dog. Yoreno didn’t mean the thought in a bad way. He admired Kylen for his persistence and diligence. But damn him if he wasn’t annoying.

“Can you not see that she is in a dark place after we lost the king?”

“Dark place?” he asked skeptically. “She’s not in a ‘dark place,’ Yoreno, she’s mourning the loss of her king.”

“And she feels guilty,’ he insisted. “She thinks it was her fault.”

“Sometimes you just have to let the emotions run their course,” Kylen said. “If she wanted to see you, she would say so, right?”

Yoreno looked at him, realizing there was no talking him out of it. Finally after staring at the old man and his massively stubborn mustache, Yoreno moved to enter through the door, buy Kylen blocked him.

Then Yoreno moved to the other side, but was blocked again.

“No, son,” he said sternly. “Short of killing me, you’re not getting through. I might be old, but I’m a seasoned upper-tier adventurer, and in my old age, I bet we’re about evenly matched.”

Godsdamn the old man, he thought.

“Are you willing to put that to the test?”

“I am.”

Yoreno sighed.

But then something came to him.

“All right,” Kylen. “You win. “I’ll leave now.”

“All right, then.”

“Please notify me immediately whenever Dantera is ready to receive visitors.”

“Don’t worry, kid. You know I will.”

He turned to go, but then a question came to him. “Kylen,” he asked. “Is Dantera gong to the crowning ceremony?”

“What?” he asked. “Of course she is! She’s a lady of Aevalin. How could she not?”

“Just wondering.”

“She’ll be—“

“Be busy at the ceremony,” Yoreno interrupted. He smiled. “I know.”

Kylen nodded, a look of sympathy in his eyes.

He was a good man.

Once he was out of Kylen’s sight, Yoreno slipped into one of the empty bedchambers. One that had windows.

Locking the door behind him, he glanced about the chamber. It was large and had a desk near the window in the front room. The bed was in the backroom. The curtains had been drawn open, as they always were to allow sunlight into the rooms when they weren’t being used by guests.

Yoreno circled the desk and went to the window. It was covered with diamond-shaped storm bracers, the glass tempered to allow in light, but strong enough to withstand heavy wind and hail.

Finding the latch, he undid it and then opened the window completely. It was designed like a set of double doors without a beam in the middle. Easy to climb out of.

He leaned out and found what he had expected to. An ample ledge. From up here it gave the window stout framing and support from the weather, but also served aesthetically, giving the enclosure shelter.

From outside of the castle looking up, those ledges about the windows that circled the castle turrets served to give the castle character and beauty.

Aevalin castle was one of unparalleled beauty.

And now Yoreno was stepping out onto the ledge. This side was facing east, giving him golden-orange light to see by. If he was correct, he could follow this ledge and get to her chamber windows.

He skirted by, each subtle gust of wind almost knocking him off his feet. The wind wasn’t nearly strong enough to make him lose balance and fall, but his fear of falling seemed to heighten the thought of danger.

Passing the first chamber windows, Yoreno had to be careful not to be seen. He leaned over, looking through them. None of the windows were open, and if anyone was in the room, all they would see was a man-shaped shadow crossing their window.

It would surely get the guards reigning down on him like all the hells since the event with the assassins just days prior.

But he was quick when he crossed the ledge where there were windows.

Passing the first chamber, and then the second, he reached what he thought to be Dantera’s chamber windows.

She had but to sign the paper… sign it and seal it with her stamp of noble approval and it would be done.

She swallowed hard.

Great change was upon her—upon them all, she thought. But she had to embrace this.

Suddenly the window cracked upon. Dantera looked up, expecting a gust of wind, but when she saw the man-shaped shadow, she jerked reflexively.

Ito Farralia was out of its sheath and she was standing up, her legs spread and her chair pushed back.

When the man jumped through the window, her heart nearly stopped.

Then she realized who that man was.

“Yoreno?!”

Looking into her eyes, he smiled boyishly. “Did you know, Lady Brennovo once told me she had snuck about these same ledges elsewhere in the castle to play a trick on her cousin Adelaid involving a jar of spiders?”

She laughed and found herself surprised that after calming, her heart was beating fast again. She lowered her sword and asked, “But why?! What are you doing, Yoreno?”

Yoreno didn’t want to snitch on Kylen, but there was no other explanation other than the very obvious one.

“Well,” he said, “Kylen wouldn’t allow me in to see you. I tried multiple times and he even threatened me.”

“He did what?”

“Kylen is the most loyal man I know.”

“Ah,” she said and nodded. “Yes, well, I didn’t refuse you specifically. I told him to let no one in to see me no matter what.”

Worried, he asked, “Are you well? I know losing the king shook me as well, but it’s not—“

“It’s partially that, Yoreno. I am the one responsible for what happened. I take the blame and the responsibility for His Majesty’s—“

“No,” Yoreno said. “That’s just it. You are not the one at fault.”

She looked at him. Then she scoffed quietly. “Princess—or should I say Queen Neslyn—doesn’t think so.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just… taking care of some things is all.” She smiled. “I’m fine, Yoreno. Truly.”

The impression he had was one of dishonesty. Not of deceit. She was hiding something she didn’t want him to know. To protect him from something?

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

She smiled then. “You will find out soon enough. When it is the proper time.” She walked behind her desk and signed a letter. She dusted the ink, blew on it and folded the letter before tipping her candle over and sealing it.

“What’s that?”

“Actually…” she said, reaching out to give it to him, “It’s for you.”

“Me?” He took the letter and looked at her lion’s head seal in gold wax.

“Yes—but don’t open it now.” She nodded firmly. “You will know the right time, I promise you.”

“I feel that something dire is upon us.”

“What do you mean?”

She asked him so casually, he decided not to say what he was thinking. Surely he was wrong, that she was hiding something—that whatever was in the letter would alarm him and cause him to argue with her.

But surely that feeling was wrong?

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

She paused, then nodded. “Now,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Let us prepare for our new queen’s coronation ceremony.”

“But… you said the princess blames you for the king’s death. Are you really going to go?”

“Si,”she said in Amalfi. “I will just attend from a distance. Everything will be fine. And she is right, you know?”

“About?”

“To continue the Age of Readventure festival, to strive on with her brother’s wish to see a new age.”

Yoreno nodded.

“Even if we do not want to, Yoreno, we must do this thing, yes? A show of solidarity.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

She smiled with a nod. “I will see you there tomorrow, then.”

Not wanting to leave, he didn’t know what else to say. She just looked at him, saying nothing. Finally he nodded and got up. “All right. I’ll see you there.”

“Of course.”

He went to the door and opened it. Kylen turned and flinched at seeing Yoreno come out of the room he had kept him from.

Yoreno smiled and patted him on the shoulder. With a nod he said, “It was a jar of spiders.”

“What?”

With a final glance at Dantera, who had followed him to the door, Yoreno strode down the corridor.

Heart hammering in her chest, she almost called out to Yoreno as he strode down the hallway. She wanted him to pry, to make her tell him what she was doing, so she could have an excuse not to do what she was going to do.

But she must, Dantera thought. She must do this thing.

Yoreno would do right by her.

She knew it.

“Are you all right, my lady?” Kylen asked.

“Si—I mean, yes. Yes everything is fine, Kylen.”

She closed the door.