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  “A carafe of wine would please us. And perhaps a platter of spiced cakes.” He rested his hand on his protruding stomach. “We are rather famished. But first, a soft, quiet place to sit. Two days traveling in a carriage is most trying on the nerves.”

  “Of course.” Daniella motioned to a waiting servant. “See His Grace is settled into a guest room and provided with whatever he needs.”

  The servant dropped a quick curtsy. Before following her from the room, the High Priest smiled at Daniella. “You are as courteous as you are lovely, my dear.”

  Daniella smiled back, lowering her gaze as if embarrassed by such praise. “You are too kind, your Grace.”

  Once the High Priest and his acolyte had moved out of sight, Richard cursed and spat on the floor. Daniella smiled. “Temper, dear brother. Do not forget the power that man wields over us.”

  “I haven’t,” Richard growled. “If I didn’t need the disgusting pig to put me on the throne I wouldn’t let him within fifty feet of me. He’ll have the whole castle smelling like a cheap brothel before he goes. I swear, once I am king I’m going to see he’s taken down a peg or two. Maybe I’ll dismantle the priesthood altogether.”

  “You think it would be so easy?”

  “And why not? Who would stand in my way? The God Above?” He scoffed. “No such being exists. Those who believe in the twin gods are fools.”

  “Perhaps, but those fools make up the largest portion of the kingdom’s population,” Daniella said. “It might not be wise to go about attacking their religion.”

  “I fear nothing from those peasants,” Richard said. “They thought things were so bad under my father’s reign? Wait until I’m king. I’ll soon have them cowed so low they won’t dare raise their eyes to me, let alone their arms.”

  “Brave talk,” Daniella said. “But better men than you have been laid low by peasants. You might know as much, if you ever bothered to pick up a book.”

  Richard’s eyes narrowed. “Do not condescend to me, woman. I’ve put up with much from you because you’ve proven useful to me. But don’t press me or you may regret it.”

  “Will I?” She stepped closer, practically daring him to raise a hand to her. “You don’t frighten me, Brother. You never have and you never will. I raised you. If not for me your mother would have let you starve to death in your crib for all she cared about your life. I am the reason you are alive. I made you what you are.” She stepped closer still, knowing she was playing with fire and loving every minute of it.

  “Maybe our father was right,” Daniella said, her voice so low no one else could have heard. “Maybe you really aren’t his son. Maybe you really are a bastard.” She smiled at the way the word made him flinch. “Whether you’re truly of royal blood or not, we both know he means to strip you of the title of Crowned Prince. It’s because of me you will be king. So don’t make threats you know you’d be a fool to carry through. You still need me. You’ll always need me. Without me, you are nothing.”

  Richard’s expression was tight, his eyes bright with rage. Daniella smiled coolly, unafraid. The moment hung between them for several long breaths, waiting to see which way it would turn. Then Richard spun on his heel and stormed from the room. His footsteps echoed off the stone walls.

  Daniella chuckled.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jesse sat in the saddle and stared out across the flat grasslands of the Wild Lands, where he had spent so much of his youth. This place was his home, it’s people his family, and here he was come to steal from them. It wasn’t for the first time since he and his companions started out on this journey he found himself having second thoughts.

  “How far is it to the temple?” Ethan asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been.”

  “What?” Ethan turned to Manny. “Then surely you have.”

  Manny stared steadfastly ahead, his one eye set with stern lines, and said nothing. Jesse shifted in his saddle. “Manny hasn’t been there either.”

  “But he’s a wildling.”

  “A wildling can only go to the temple if he’s communed with his chosen spirit,” Jesse said. He did hope Ethan would leave it alone. It was a sore subject for Manny even if he wasn’t the one speaking of it. And he was already upset enough.

  “Katherine, my dear, I do believe we have something of a problem here.” He twisted around to address the only female member of their group. “It would seem our guides have no idea where the temple is.”

  Kat readjusted the staff strapped across her back. “I know. Jesse already told me as much.”

  “Well,” Ethan folded his hands on the pommel of his saddle, “isn’t it lovely everyone knew this but me. Pray tell, how are we to find our way to the temple if no one knows where it is except to say it lies somewhere in the middle of a desert?”

  “We’ll be picking someone up along the way.” Jesse saw Manny’s muscles stiffen. He hadn’t told his friend they would be adding another member to this little party, but the man knew whom he meant in any case. “She’ll lead us to the temple.”

  “Another person to share the starstones with?” Ethan asked. “The surprises keep coming.”

  “She won’t want a cut,” Jesse said. He could feel Kat staring at the back of his head but he refused to turn around. “If I can convince her to come it will only be because I asked it of her.”

  “If you can convince her to come?” Kat asked, a bite to her words. “What’s wrong, did you leave her on bad terms?”

  Jesse chose to ignore the remark. “See that building?” He pointed to a plain wooden building. It was the only human habitation in sight. “That’s the trading post. We’ll stop there to resupply. Beyond that... I don’t know. It’ll take however long it takes.”

  “Why are you the one giving orders?” Kat kicked her horse up beside his. “I was the one hired for this job.”

  “And I was the one you brought along to help you deal with the wildlings,” Jesse countered. “Well, we’re about to enter the Wild Lands so I think it only makes sense I take over from here. I know this land and these people. You don’t. Have you ever even dealt with any wildling aside from Manny?”

  “No,” Kat said. “But I’m not sure I like the idea of you being in charge. It hasn’t worked out well for us in the past.”

  “Hey, I only got us arrested twice and --”

  “Three times.” Kat waved her fingers in his face for emphasis.

  Jesse batted them away. “The first time I was drunk, so it doesn’t count. Can you never let anything go?”

  “I don’t know. Can you never resist taking a tumble with any willing female who crosses your path?”

  “Good God Above.” Jesse clapped a hand to the side of his face. “Are you going to drag our prior relationship into every single conversation we have from here on out? Because if you are, then Manny and I will turn right around and go back to Marigold. Where, I’ll remind you, we have enough king’s marks waiting for us to have ourselves a grand old time. See if you and Ethan can get any wildling to lead you to their most sacred temple without us.”

  Kat scowled. “Fine. I won’t bring it up again. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you and anybody else who comes along. I don’t want to end up sacrificed in some weird wildling ceremony.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jesse said, “they only sacrifice young, beautiful, and chaste maidens. Leaves you out on all counts.”

  “Well I guess if they have a fertility ceremony they’ll know who to look for.” She kicked her horse into a gallop.

  Jesse sighed as dust blew into his face. Despite her promise not to bring up their ill fated romance again, he had a bad feeling he was yet to hear the end of it. Women. He would never understand them. Especially that one.

  Ethan shook his head. “She really does hate you, doesn’t she?”

  “You’re only just noticing?” Jesse rubbed the spot between his eyes. “Women are a nuisance.”

  “Ah, but they are good for a thing or two.” Ethan smiled.


  “Which reminds me,” Jesse said, “I don’t want you charming any ladies. Wildling men don’t look too kindly on dalliances and I’d hate to see you lose a part of your anatomy I’m sure you’d miss.”

  “Don’t worry,” Ethan said. “I’ll be on my best behavior.” He trotted his horse after Kat’s retreating form.

  Somehow his assurances didn’t make Jesse feel any better. “I swear if one or the other of them doesn’t get us all killed it’ll be a miracle. At least we don’t have Brandon along, otherwise we’d be doomed for sure.”

  Manny said nothing. No surprise there, he’d not spoken a word to Jesse since they started this thing. The wildling certainly had a right to be angry, but the silence was starting to get to Jesse.

  “We’d better catch up to them.” Jesse pushed his gelding into a light canter which Manny, who had never ridden a horse and likely never would, could easily keep pace with on foot.

  This part of the Wild Lands was mostly harsh scrub land with little color. But the flat yellow glare of the sun and the roughly warm breeze felt like paradise to Jesse. He’d been too long trapped beneath Marigold’s gray, coal dust choked skies. It was good to be going home. Even if not for the purest of reasons.

  Kat and Ethan had already tied their horses to the hitching post and entered the building by the time Jesse reached the trading post. He swung down from his gelding and tossed Manny the reins.

  After all the times Jesse had come to the trading post in his life, the building itself felt like an old friend. Looking around, he could imagine his father’s wagon sitting beside the old well. Could see the man’s face. Hear his laugh. Though they weren’t father and son by blood, still he had been family. And even after so many years those old memories could still put a knot in Jesse’s throat.

  Inside, the trading post was the same as always. Cramped, dimly lit, and musty. A mongrel dog lay sprawled across the floor while a scruffy cat with half its right ear missing glared at Jesse from the scarred counter top. Behind the counter sat a wilding so old his dusky face was nothing but a maze of wrinkles.

  “Hello, Pander.” Jesse stepped up to the counter, keeping a careful eye on the cat. “Thought you’d be dead by now.”

  The old man snorted. “You’ll be dead long before I am.” His gaze tracked Kat and Ethan as they perused the shelves holding the trading post’s stock. Some of which had been sitting for so long it was no longer recognizable. “Got some new friends, I see.”

  “Not new, really. Not friends either,” Jesse said. It was the first time he’d ever come to the trading post with anyone but his father or Manny. He leaned against the counter. “Have you any news of the village? Are they still summering in about the same location?”

  Pander scratched the side of his nose. The tattoos on his fingers looked like so much black smudge. “Last I heard they were a bit more east ways. Been awhile since you were there.”

  Jesse nodded. “Too long. I guess a little more than three years. I kept meaning to come back, but one thing or another got in the way. How is everybody?”

  “Fair enough. Been a few births and a few deaths. Circle of life.”

  “And Nika?”

  “Same as always.”

  “Still no husband?”

  Pander shrugged. “Her life belongs to the earth spirit. She says he is all the husband she needs.”

  “She’s dedicated for sure.” Jesse pushed back from the counter. “It’s been nice talking with you, old man, but I’d best be on my way.”

  “Take what you need.” Pander waved at the shelves.

  “Thanks.” Jesse got together with Kat and Ethan to gather up what supplies they would need to make it to the village and then left the trading post.

  “Kat, you fill up the canteens while Manny and I pack the supplies,” Jesse said.

  She gave him such a look he thought she would refuse, but she didn’t say a word. She simply gathered up the canteens and carried them over to the well. With Manny’s help it didn’t take long to get the supplies situated in the saddlebags. Jesse went over to Kat, thinking to himself if things between them couldn’t be the way they were before maybe they could at least try to be civil.

  Kat had reached behind her head to retie the bind holding her unruly hair back from her face. Jesse couldn’t help but admire the view as the motion caused her shirt to press against the side of her breast. She raised a brow when she caught him looking.

  “Like what you see?”

  He smiled. “I always did.”

  “But not enough to keep you out of the whorehouse.”

  So much for being civil. “It’s been six months,” he started gathering up the canteens, “can’t you let it go? I’m not the one ended things between us you know. That was all you. I was fine with things the way they were.”

  “Yeah.” Kat snatched the canteens right out of his hands. “I’m sure you were.” She walked away, shaking her head and leaving Jesse to wonder why any attempt he made to patch things up only made her more angry.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Charles stared out through the carriage window at the trees lining the roadway. “I cannot believe I am actually doing this.”

  “Richard won’t believe it either,” Victor said. “Which makes it all the more perfect. An unexpected move will throw your enemy off balance every time.”

  “Considering how off balance my cousin already is, I’m not certain how wise it is to push him.” The words sounded cowardly even to Charles’ own ears. He was not a coward, or at least he had never been before. But he was afraid. Afraid of what Richard might do. Afraid to fail. Afraid to succeed. Afraid of what might be happening to Anastasia and Simon. Never in his life had he been so consumed by fear.

  “Perhaps your sister will fail to stop the Cataclysm,” Victor said. “Then you won’t have to worry over your cousin.”

  Charles turned to find the older man smiling at him. How nice for Victor that he could find humor in the situation. As for Charles himself, he could not manage to be so flippant about the prospect of the world coming to an end. Especially considering it was a good chance the only way to stop it was his sister’s death. Nor did he feel comfortable discussing such things in front of Edward, the young servant boy who rode in the carriage with them, staring down at a piece of wood upon which he was carving with a small, worn dagger. A boy who looked enough like Victor for Charles to wonder things he was far too polite to ask aloud.

  “I mean no disrespect, Duke Victor,” Charles said, “but this is a situation which calls for a bit more seriousness than you’re giving it.”

  Victor’s smile faded. “Do not for a moment think I do not take this seriously. Were it up to me I would see Richard and his vile witch of a sister strung up from the highest tree for what they did to their father. But it seems I’ll have to settle for seeing them thrown from the castle and banished from the kingdom. The only way I can bear this injustice is with as much humor as I can muster.”

  “What if I fail?” Charles asked. “What if we go up against Richard and the High Priest makes him king in any case?”

  “I hear the Dells are nice this time of year. If you can get past the near constant rains and the cesspools.”

  Charles grimaced. The idea of having to flee Hyacinth never to return was not in the least appealing, though he supposed it would be preferable to whatever highly unpleasant death his cousin was sure to have in mind for him.

  As the carriage started up the hill toward the castle, Charles focused on taking deep, even breaths. It was vital he keep a clear head in the days to come. It would not do to allow Richard to see his fear or his hatred. No matter what his cousin might do to try and goad him.

  And he must also mind his words where the High Priest was concerned. He wondered what the man would do were he to tell him the God Above was not a benevolent and beneficent entity as those of his faith believed, but a madman bent on destroying not only this world, but all worlds. The idea of saying such a thing to the High Priest
caused a bubble of hysterical laughter to rise up in Charles' throat.

  “Steady,” Victor said. “Calm yourself.”

  Charles swallowed back the feeling of hysteria. “How am I to face Richard after all the threats he’s made against my sister? I’m not a man of short temper, but I’d like nothing better than to run my fist down his throat.”

  “Think on me,” Victor said. “Whatever threats the prince has made against Anastasia have remained only that, threats. I lost a good and dear friend in the king and now I must face his murderers knowing they will never be properly punished. If I can face Richard and Daniella with a clear mind, then so can you.”

  The carriage came to a stop and Edward hurried to open the door for them. With the boy in tow, Charles and Victor made their way up the steps to the castle door. The guards on watch eyed them uncertainly. They were neither invited nor expected and though the guards surely recognized Duke Victor’s crest on the side of the carriage, if not the White Knight himself, they still had their orders.

  One of the guards stepped forward to meet them. “What business have you at the castle this day, good sirs?” The slight tremor in his voice and his aversion to looking directly at them suggested to Charles he knew exactly to whom he was speaking.

  “We’ve come seeking audience with her Royal Majesty, the Queen,” Victor said. “We’re not expected, but it is urgent and I have every reason to believe her Majesty will welcome us. Kindly inform her Majesty that Victor Lassard, Duke of Monroe, and Lord Charles DeHaviland of the Duchy of Columine await her.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” The guard executed a swift bow before spinning on his heels and hastening into the castle.

  Charles shifted on his feet. He’d only actually met Queen Jana once, ten years ago when she married his uncle. He and Anastasia had not visited the castle since, due to a certain incident involving the two of them, Richard, a bloody nose, and a mud puddle. An incident Charles deeply regretted as it had been the cause of no end of trouble through the intervening years.