Edge of Darkness ~ A Darkness & Light Novel Book Three (8 page)

"It comes from a good place. I know that. You're a good lass. But it won't help either one of you."

"Thank you for your advice, Commander. I'll certainly take it into consideration," Ciara said as she turned away from him and started up the stairs.

"Now, lass, don't take offense. Oh, for the love of--"

His grumbling followed her the rest of the way up, and she left it behind the closed door of the study.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sometime well after dark, Ciara gave up the pretense of actually eating the dinner of fresh bread, stew, and cheese delivered to her rooms by a young scullery maid. The food set her mouth to watering, yet her stomach rebelled at the tiniest nibble. So, Ciara took to pacing a path in the carpet between the fireplace and the desk, worrying at a hang nail.

She knew nothing of the workings of the court, or the laws of Nisair. Life with her aunt had been uncomplicated, and though every day there were chores aplenty, it had been an easy life when compared to many. Ciara suspected, however, people like Lady Honval looked down their noses at simple, country healers. The mages were right about one thing, Ciara should never have come to Nisair. If not for Bolin, she would pack her few belongings and leave. There had to be a village somewhere that needed a healer. The city seemed large and cold, packed with people whose lives were nothing like Ciara's.

A firm rap on the door stopped her mid-step, and set her heart racing. Imagination put the Council Guard in the corridor, ready to haul her to the dungeon. She couldn't fight them. They would slap chains on her and drag her away, and Lady Honval would probably follow along just to gloat.

The knock came again, followed by Ariadne's voice calling her name. Still, Ciara didn't move. Another knock, louder this time, then the latch turned and the door swung slowly inward. Ariadne peeked around the edge of it, her smooth brow furrowing when her eyes landed on Ciara. The Emperor's sister said nothing, only crossed to Ciara and took her in her arms.

Ciara forced herself to take a deep breath. "Did you talk to Thadeus?"

"Yes." Ariadne's stepped back to hold Ciara at arm's length. "Are you all right?"

"Too much time to think. My imagination tends to get the better of me."

Ariadne's mouth tightened and she gestured to the chairs by the fireplace. "We should sit. We have much to discuss."

The knot in Ciara's stomach tightened. Perhaps her imagination wasn't as wild as she thought.

Ariadne gestured Garek to join them from where he waited just inside the study. He nodded curtly to Ciara, then went to pour them each a glass of heather line before taking a post by the fireplace, one shoulder leaning against the mantel.

"Before we go too far, you need to understand what the Imperial court is like." Ariadne sat poised in her chair, hands folded loosely in her lap. "Everyone has enemies, and who those are could very well change from one day to the next as lords and ladies jockey for position in the lower ranks. It's ridiculous, really, and I despise it. It has always been such and, I imagine, always will be. The more powerful and influential a person is, the more enemies they are likely to have."

"Or the more false friends and fawning bootlickers," Garek said.

"Sounds like a bunch of mares squabbling over who gets to be herd boss." Of the two, Ciara would have preferred dealing with the mares.

Garek snorted. "Mares have more sense than most of the nobility. Present company excluded, of course."

"I should have seen this coming," Ariadne said. "I'm terribly sorry, Ciara. By the time I got wind of what Honval was up to, she had already convinced Vaedryn and most of the others to side with her. She and Reinhold are very close, and she is desperate to save his life."

Garek muttered something under his breath, too soft for Ciara to hear.

Ariadne ignored him. "Bolin is a very powerful man in just about every sense of the word. He has held a position, second only to the emperor, since the days of my father's reign. As such, he has earned himself some very powerful enemies both in, and out, of the court. For the most part, the Council has never been a friend to him. They resented his influence with my father and, though it's somewhat less with Dain, they would rather he had none at all. Arnok, in particular, continuously pushed Dain to set Bolin aside, and Vaedryn stood with Arnok. The Council was instrumental in sending Bolin to search for you. They were overjoyed to have him absent for so long, and did all they could to quietly alienate him, and drive a wedge between him and Dain.

"You are a Lady of the Empire in your own right, possessed of power no one yet fully understands. That, unfortunately, makes you a threat to those mages uncertain of their own place. Beyond that, you are Bolin's named consort. Before he left for Galys Auld, he made clear to the court in general, and the Council in particular, exactly what your position is. He did so to secure your place in his absence." Ariadne frowned and shook her head, as though she felt Bolin should have known better. "Unfortunately, by doing so, he inadvertently threw you to the wolves. Arnok's supporters on the Council have, understandably, reacted badly to his death. They seem to overlook the fact he died as a traitor to the crown, openly attacking Dain, of all things. Reinhold awaits trial and certain execution for the part he played. The Council would love to lay the blame for all of it at Bolin's feet. They have enough sense to realize what a fruitless endeavor that would be. With both Bolin and Dain out of the city, however, you have become the perfect substitute. By discrediting you, they discredit Bolin."

"Pack of cowards," Garek said, his voice an angry rumble. "What do they think'll happen when he gets back? He'll tear them apart."

"Precisely," Ariadne said. "His options will be to renounce Ciara, or go for their throats. I think we all know what his choice will be. He won't give it even half a thought. He'll go for them and, in so doing, give them exactly what they want."

Garek shook his head. "We need to call him back before this goes any further."

"He would never get here in time to stop it." Ariadne gave Ciara a long, searching look. "What we need to do, is get you out of the Council's reach without anyone knowing. I can delay their actions, but Thadeus tells me they are, even now, considering warding you until the matter is resolved in their eyes. He and Laryn will continue to work on your behalf, and are close to swaying Delsiph to their side as well. That would give them the majority, and this whole thing would be put to bed. As much as I hate to be a pessimist, however, I just don't see that happening."

Ciara set her untouched glass aside and stood to pace, rubbing her palms on her thighs. Lady Honval's words at their first meeting, and now Ariadne's on top of them, churned in her head until it threatened to burst. "You're suggesting I leave Nisair?"

Truthfully, Ciara didn't hate the idea. She could find a nearby village, and return to the city when Bolin did. Or, better yet, she could ride south to meet him in the Greensward, and they could remain there. Galys Auld had once been Bolin's home, and Master Healer Konly would give Ciara a place in the Healing House. They could have a simple life, instead of one plagued by intrigue Ciara didn't understand, and had little desire to.

"I think it would be best," Ariadne said.

Ciara nodded absently. "Trust me, I've got plenty of experience running away, though I'm obviously not very good at it, because I always get caught. The thought of leaving here is a tempting one, but is it really the best idea? Won't it just prove to the Council that I believe I'm guilty of their claims?"

"Bolin charged me with keeping you safe while he was gone." Garek said. "I'll hate to be me if he comes back to find you in a cell. So look at it not so much as running away, as merely removing yourself from a bad situation, while saving my hide in the process. There's nothing wrong with a tactical retreat."

Ciara shook her head. "It sounds far better than a dungeon cell, but anyone who helps me will get themselves into trouble with the Council as well. I have enough of that on my conscience as it is."

"Lass, trouble and I are well acquainted. To be honest, I'd rather face the Council's ire over a full dose of Bolin's wrath."

"For this to work, you and your men will need to remain here," Ariadne said, looking up at Garek. "It would be too obvious to have you suddenly absent while I’m making excuses why Ciara can't appear before the Council. I am certain Vaedryn is keeping a very close eye on things."

Garek's brow furrowed. "How exactly do you plan to do this, then? You'll be watched just as closely."

"I've made other arrangements."

The furrows in Garek's brow deepened. He locked eyes with Ariadne and, after a moment, his eyes widened. He pursed his lips and nodded, straightening to settle his fists on his hips. "You've sent for Ferris?"

Ariadne nodded. "As soon as I received word of Ciara's arrest. He should be here late tomorrow."

Ciara looked from one to the other of them. Garek continued to nod his head as though to some internal dialog, then turned slightly and directed his attention to the flames.

"Who's Ferris?" Ciara asked.

Garek held up his hand without turning, one finger raised to silence Ariadne before she could reply. The Emperor's sister studied Garek's back, her expression resolute.

"You know he is the best choice," she said after Garek's silence wore on.

The commander barked out a short laugh. "I'm not sure everyone would agree with you." Garek pivoted, leaned back against the mantel again, and folded his arms across his chest. He nodded toward Ariadne. "This is your hand, m'lady. You play it as you see fit."

"He's a good man, Garek."

"I've not said otherwise, have I?"

"I'm not sure I want to be sent off with someone you don't trust," Ciara said to Garek.

"It's not that, lass. He'll keep you safe, no doubt there."

"Yet you don't seem too happy about Ariadne sending for him."

"I trust him," Garek said. "Doesn't mean I like him."

Ariadne blew out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Goddess defend us from the male ego."

"You know 'tis not that," Garek said. "In any case, you don't think it's going to go unnoticed when Ferris comes riding into the city?"

Ariadne gave him a look from beneath her brows. "He won't be announcing his presence, Commander. I doubt even you will be aware when he arrives."

"That's not as comforting as you may think."

"Have you another solution, Commander?" A bit of temper colored Ariadne's tone. "I am more than willing to hear how you would go about secreting Ciara out of the city, and keeping her hidden from the Council's notice."

Garek chewed at his mustache, holding Ariadne's gaze, but not offering up any solutions.

"I thought as much."

"So where will I go?" Ciara asked, hoping to prevent any further argument between the two. Her nerves were jangled enough.

Ariadne turned her attention back to Ciara. "There's a manor house a couple days west of here. You'll be safe there. Andrakaos, however, will also need to remain behind. At least for a day or two. His absence would most certainly draw attention, even before that of the Guard. Will that be a problem?"

"I don't think so," Ciara said, a bit too quickly, and then tried not fidget beneath the weight of Ariadne's scrutiny. Andrakaos's shadowy form still circled the spire on the north tower, and, though he remained a feather-light touch against the edge of Ciara's awareness, he'd been
gone
for several days. "So, this Ferris, is he a soldier?"

"Not exactly," Ariadne said, giving Garek a quick look Ciara couldn't interpret. "I retain his services from time to time, when I have need. He is extremely loyal, and very skilled in many areas. He also happens to be one of the few remaining of the old Sciathian bloodlines, and so will be able to keep you quite safe. You will have nothing to fear in his company."

"Sciathian? I thought the Sciath were all… " Ciara faltered. She had thought the entire race to be something of a myth until Donovan told her of Bolin's identity as one of the Sciath na Duinne.

"There are a scant few still living who can claim direct lineage to the Sciath of old," Ariadne said.

"I didn't know."

"Very few do. The Sciath were hunted for many years. Persecuted by those who thought them a danger. As such, they have gotten quite adept at keeping their identities a secret."

Ciara glanced Garek's way. The commander's expression remained somewhat sour. His dislike of magic was well-known. "Is that why you don't like him?"

Garek shifted. "Past history between him and I. Nothing that should color your perception. As Lady Ariadne says, he's a good man."

Ariadne stood before Ciara could give voice to the hundreds of other questions whirling in her head. "I've preparations to see to." She took Ciara's hands in hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "Try not to worry overmuch. This will all work out, I promise you."

Ciara managed a smile. She only wished she could be as confident as the Emperor's sister. It seemed, ever since her Aunt Meriol's death, Ciara had been on the run. First from Donovan and the old crone in the swamp, then from Donovan and his witch, now the Council of Mages. Nisair should have been a safe haven, but now even that had crumbled around her because of him. Perhaps it would be for the best, being out from under the scrutiny of the Imperial Mages. Without them and Nisair's wards to worry about, Ciara would be free to help Andrakaos find Donovan.

As the door closed behind Garek and Ariadne, Ciara closed her eyes and tipped her face toward the ceiling. The link between her and Andrakaos glimmered in the darkness behind her eyelids like a bit of spider silk spun with silver and black threads. It vibrated ever so slightly, assuring her that Andrakaos existed. Somewhere. So long as that thread remained between them, Ciara knew she could reach him, no matter how far apart they were.