Sea of Sighs (Empath Book 2) Read online

  A demure ripple of applause broke out, and Eden was glad for the cover as he took his seat. The perfect excuse—the hero of the day sitting at the right hand side of the king. He didn’t feel like a hero, and he doubted that he ever would. He hadn’t been trying to save the king, he been trying to save Quinn from Sammah. Vance just happened to be a beneficiary of that.

  As Eden sat, the applause died out, and Vance took that signal to declare the meeting started. He took what look like a large wooden pommel in his hand, and slammed it down on the table three times. Eden hadn’t been expecting it to make such a loud noise, but the wooden pommel against the solid stone reverberated around the chamber. To his horror, Eden jumped out of his skin. Rowan jumped too, and the lords all had a little laugh at their expense. Let them, Eden didn’t mind. He wasn’t the ruling Lord of Sevenspells in this room, and Rowan was making himself look bad, too. The main scrutiny was on his brother; Eden didn’t consider that to be a bad thing at all.

  14

  “I don’t need to go into great detail as to why were seated here today. The Sha’sek emissary, Baron Sammah, is currently stewing in one of my gaols. The Lord Shiver of Sevenspells has now joined him. I hope no one else here is considering high treason, because I don’t have any luxurious cells left.” A nervous wave of laughter came in response to those words, though Eden read the truth behind that thinly-veiled threat. Of course Vance feared for his throne, and it made sense that more lords would be in alliance with Shiver. For Vance, it was now just a matter of finding out who they were.

  Eden suddenly realised Vance shouldn’t have sent Quinn away; she would have been so useful in this meeting. But, Vance didn’t like the gifted of Sha’sek, and he would been hypocritical if he’d taken advantage of her abilities and yet sentenced Sammah for the same actions.

  “So, we need to examine why the baron Sammah felt compelled bring our people back to the brink of war, and perhaps more importantly, why one of our own lords felt it necessary to move in alliance with a Sha’sekian baron. Any questions?”

  Obrenn spoke up. “You sent away the Sha’sek girl—Sammah’s daughter—the one who was helping him. Surely she was your most important witness? Why did you do that?”

  “She isn’t needed. Sammah has already confessed to his crimes, therefore no witnesses are necessary. What we have to assess, is why he wanted to commit those crimes, not what crimes he committed. High treason has already been confirmed, I just need to know who else helped him, and why. That is also the reason I decided to take Lord Shiver into my custody.”

  “Surely though this girl can just tell us who he’s allied with? Can’t she read minds?”

  “No.” Eden surprised himself by speaking out of turn, and now he had the scrutiny of all of the eyes in the room on him. “No,” he repeated more calmly. “She can’t read minds, she can only sense emotions. And she only did what Sammah told her to do. He didn’t let her meet anyone important, and he didn’t let anyone of worth know who she was. I’m sure that included my father.” Eden added as an afterthought. He thought he caught the slightest glimpse of a nod from his brother. Approval, there, which was good. A defence of both Quinn, his father, and the king, all in one go. Not a bad start, even if he hadn’t meant to meant make a start at all.

  “As Captain Eden says,” Vance began, “the empath known as Quinn, who was Shiver’s adoptive daughter, and employed here as a maid, was not able to read people’s minds, and I’m grateful for it. She was under blackmail by her father, and while she was guilty of some crimes, treason was not one of them. She, along with Eden, worked to root out Sammah’s evil, and expose it to the rest of us. I couldn’t, therefore, put her on the execution block along with him. But, she was too dangerous to leave here, and not just to me, but to all of us. She’s already been used by one noble against me, and I can’t trust that it wouldn’t happen again. She is better off with her own kind.”

  “She’s more dangerous with her own kind isn’t she? It was an empath that started the last war.” This was Rowan, and Eden didn’t doubt that he’d echoed words that had likely come from their father’s mouth.

  “If I thought she was a danger to me directly, I wouldn’t have let her go, I would have had her killed.” Eden didn’t believe that Vance would have had the gall, but it sounded like something he had to say. “She saved my life; she is loyal to Everfell. She did what she did before, because she knew no better; she was a child, and she had no control. I’ve given her that control, and I’ve spared her life. I expect her to be grateful for that and remember my gesture. I do not expect her to come back here in the future bearing arms and leading a war.”

  “Your actions are honourable, my liege, but what if she does come back here at the head of an army?” Calvin asked, his tone nasal and condescending.

  “The empath Nerren was a warmonger,” Eden declared, “Quinn is not.”

  “I remember seeing her in court when that mercenary was convicted,” Calvin replied. “She was frightened; a timid thing. She grew up in Everfell amongst our kind. She won’t bring war to our doorstep. If anyone would, it’s the baron Sammah in his actions against our king.” Lord Calvin’s words echoed Eden’s own thoughts, and he glad that at least one of the lord would be, if not on his side, then at least in the same way of thinking.

  “Indeed, thank you for your thoughts.” Vance acknowledged the lord of Port Kahnel. “The matter of the empath is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about her father and Shiver. But, if all you have something to get off your chest in regards to this matter, now is the time to do it. I won’t have this meeting constantly interrupted by side stories and fairy tales. Her legend is dead; she is not. There is no one else like her left in the city, because my healer has left with her. Does anyone have any other questions or problems with the way I have dealt with my subjects?”

  Silence met this, and Eden whispered thanks. He wouldn’t have been able to bear it if the entire meeting had centred around Quinn and her fate. He was glad that Vance had had the sense to spare Quinn from the block, but she’d carry the burden of her father’s actions for entire life, as well as the stigma of her ancestry.

  “So, onto the Sha’sek themselves, now the orphans are out of the way of the conversation. I’ve already sent messengers to Lynton asking for a new emissary, but I don’t know if we’ll get one. We may get a message that this may have been the start of actions at war gentleman, and I need to know that you have the men and the resources to come to Everfell’s aid if needed.”

  All of the lords bellowed in support of the king, and Rowan’s voice was the loudest amongst them.

  Vance let the mob rule, leaving the lords to roar out their allegiances to him. Eventually, when the noise was too much for even him to bear, he waved them down and got to his feet.

  “These are good words to hear, from Sevenspells especially, Lord Rowan. We couldn’t do without your men. Or women,” he added to a smattering of laughter. Sevenspells was the only land that still allowed its women to fight, and had therefore been the most capable when the Sha’sekians—their own women wielding weapons and screaming ferociously—had stormed the Everfell lines. Again and again, Shiver had reminded everyone of this, trying to point out how futile is was to hold back decent fighters just because of what was between their legs. Rowan would likely pick up that mantle as well.

  “Now, hear me. I don’t want this to come to war, but it might. I need every one of you to prepare for the worst. Call musters; get all of your able-bodied soldiers ready. All of your noble houses and guilds eligible to provide you with men-at-arms need to submit them. Make your cities ready for siege, especially those on the coast. Lord Calvin—make sure Port Kahnel’s fleet is out and scouting our shores. Whether war is declared or not, I will be sending Everfell reinforcements to our vulnerable borders. My own men will be ready to go as and where needed. The city of Everfell is the last place they’ll come if they invade, so we need to be ready to defend where we are most needed. We can learn from
the mistakes we learned last time. This time, there will be no limp declaration of peace.

  “I’m not withdrawing my cousin from Sha’sek. It’s imperative we ask the council to hold a similar meeting, so we can gauge whether or not they were invested in Sammah’s plans. I have received a pigeon from Lynton already; he is not in any danger. The council is aware of what has happened to Sammah in Everfell, and Lynton advises that we mustn’t overreact. We have to keep our movements hidden until we know what Sha’sekian intentions are.”

  “Have you asked the baron yet? Would he admit to any plans, if they intended to invade?”

  “There’s been no confession of that, but I doubt Sammah would tell us, even if we placed him under hot irons. The man’s been here since the end of the war, and I trusted him almost with my life. That trust almost cost us everything, and I’m not making that mistake again. Torturing the man would almost certainly bring about war, So if the baron isn’t going to volunteer the information, I can’t force it out of him.”

  “What about Shiver? You can force it out of him.”

  Eden stood involuntarily at this, anger coursing through his chest. His brother did the same, and Vance waved them both back down to their seats.

  “No, Erran! I will not lay weapons on my lords. I can do what is necessary, if it comes to the noose or the executioner’s block, but in Shiver’s case, I can’t see it getting that far. We all know what foul means Sammah used to get what he wanted. Shiver will give me the information, because treasonous or not, he is an honourable man.”

  Erran snorted. “If your highness doesn’t want to befoul himself with Lord Shiver’s blood, then I humbly volunteer. If he was an honourable man, he wouldn’t stand accused of treason. I personally believe that he gave up all rights to lands and titles the second he allied with a Sha’sekian Baron, and yet two of his heirs are sitting at this very table. And one of them is the captain of his city guard—capable of ordering his men to strike at the heart of Everfell. You need to deal with these threats, your highness!”

  “You’re out of line, Erran! Take your seat and shut your mouth. Rowan is here because he is loyal, and not a suspect, and he is the regent to Sevenspells whilst his father takes my hospitality. Rowan knows who his king is. Eden is here because he saved my life. I don’t think all of the men of Sevenspells follow in the footsteps of their lord and father. Are you yet again openly doubting my judgement? Perhaps you are more in league with Shiver than they are, seeing as you’re so eager to point out how I can’t perform my royal duties?”

  Erran’s cheeks, which had become flushed with anger, paled. At Vance’s threat, he shrank back in his seat. He had managed to talk himself into a very dangerous corner, and could easily be accused of treason, there and then. Erran might not have the largest of the lands of the men around the table, but he valued them, and his neck. “I didn’t mean that at all, your highness, I am just concerned for your safety. You need to surround yourself with allies and friends, not your enemies.”

  “I’m not sure how the saying goes, but thank you for your opinion. It is duly noted.”

  It sounded like a dismissal, and perhaps it was, but Erran couldn’t leave until the meeting was done. Eden doubted they’d hear from his sour mouth again for the rest of the day. “Despite all of the wind coming from Erran’s throat, he does make a measure of sense. Yes, I need to ensure I only have allies in this court. But, given the events of the past few days, how can I know which of you are loyal, and which are not? I always knew that Shiver coveted this throne. I’ve always treated him carefully, and he’s never been in my close confidence; you all know that. When his son succeeds him, which will happen one day, whether Shiver rots in my gaols or not, Rowan won’t be high in my favours, either. No offence, my lord, but you are more like your father than your brothers, and I know you have a taste for war just as much as he. I hope to use this in the coming months, if it comes to it, but you’ll never sit at my right hand.”

  The phrasing wasn’t lost on anyone there as they turned to Eden. Vance followed their gaze and continued, “Yes, my right hand. I have need of a new chamberlain.”

  “What? Where’s Ross?”

  Calvin had spat the name, convincing Eden that the lord coveted that position for his own household. Port Kahnel was affluent, though it was a miserable place. Perhaps Calvin was trying to secure a good place at court for a brother or cousin.

  “Ross is currently on his way to Sha’sek with Quinn and Maertn,” Vance answered matter-of-factly. He smirked to himself, sipping wine as this news caused an eruption of voices around him. He noted Eden’s stony gaze as he tried not to react to the men around him, and whispered conspiratorially, “See lad, they think I’m deranged. Incapable. This is going to be an interesting conversation.”

  Obrenn’s blustery bass tones were the first to dissent. “I’m sorry, your highness, but how could you send him away to Sha’sek? Him of all people. You may have confidence that the girl isn’t going to raise arms against you, but Ross already did. He led mercenaries in the last war, and he was one of their most effective generals. How could you let him go with your enemy?”

  “On my bidding, he is there protecting a very precious citizen of Everfell.”

  “Quinn?” Rowan ventured.

  “Not Quinn. The healer.”

  “Maertn? The gangly boy?”

  “Gangly he may be but he’s already saved countless lives here. I thought you’d all heard of him in some capacity?”

  “Yes, though some of those stories were quite far-fetched for a boy of his age. Torran has been a master for decades, and isn’t half as skilled.”

  “Of course they were implausible; the boy was Sha’sekian, like Quinn. Another one of Sammah’s orphans. He was born to be a healer.”

  This brought further vocal eruptions, and Vance slid another glass of wine over to Eden. “If you ever loved Quinn or Maertn, then drink this. You know exactly why I sent Ross out, and what I think of Maertn. The rest of the men in this room do not agree, and this is not going to be a pleasant conversation for you. Try to ignore these hens.”

  Eden took the glass and didn’t hold back this time when the king bade him to drink. When the lords realised that Vance wasn’t responding to them, the din died out. Vance was just sitting there with a calm smile on his face. He reminded Eden of a wolf, a predator, and he began to wonder, not the first time, just how benign Vance really was. He seemed to be playing everybody the way he wanted them. So, was the hapless king all part of an act?

  “Now that you’ve all finished squawking, I will explain myself, not that it’s strictly necessary.

  “Maertn is the most talented healer in the kingdom, regardless of his age. Yes, this is because of his Sha’sekian descent, but I would be foolish to disregard such a talent because of his ancestry. He is another who, for his whole life, has been fully dedicated to the Everfell cause. He’s proven this time and time again by the number of lives he’s saved. If it comes to it, why would I want him saving the lives of the men fighting against us?”

  “What if they spell him? What if he comes back and kills us all?” The elderly Lord Broc spoke up for the first time. Judging by the council members around the table rolling their eyes, no one was taking him seriously.

  “He was brought up in Everfell. He’s never even been to the islands, and when he sees what they’re like, and the barbarians that live over there, I’m sure he’ll want to come to Everfell and back home soon enough.”

  “Why did he go in the first place?”

  “To protect Quinn. I could have ordered him to stay, but that would have made the boy unruly. The two believe themselves to be siblings, as Sammah has brought them up to be. Quinn isn’t welcome here, so protective brother that he is, Maertn has left to be with her.”

  “And where does Ross come into this political mess?”

  Vance rolled his eyes. “I thought I’d made it obvious, but apparently I need to lay it all out on a plate. I do not want Maertn to die
. I expect him to come back to Everfell. Ross is going with them to make sure that happens.”

  “What about the girl? What about Quinn?”

  Vance shrugged offhandedly. “I couldn’t care less what happens to the girl. Better that she dies. That way she’s less of a threat.”

  Eden made a fist around the stem of his glass, but stopped himself. He didn’t want to break it, bringing more attention to himself than he already had.

  “Yes, Ross was a mercenary. But he’s been my chamberlain since the end of the war, and he’s been very useful. He, too, was instrumental in saving me from Sammah’s collusions. He’s already done more to protect me than any of you have, so I wouldn’t be so quick in jumping to accusations if I were you. I already have an idea, which ones of you are truly loyal. What you will need to do, each one of you, is convince me that you’re not against me. That is why you are in this meeting. That is why I am telling you what I have planned. Not to keep you informed, and not through any politeness. I’m telling you, so I can see for myself how you react; who is cool to my reign and leadership, and who believes in what I am doing. I don’t believe for a second that Shiver acted on his own, and I don’t mean the baron Sammah. I will find who you are, and I will act accordingly. I won’t be scared to put an axe through your treacherous necks.”

  A shocked silence settled over the group, and Eden thought he’d never heard Vance speak with such force and temerity. In those words, he was the king everybody had wanted him to be, not the king everybody believed him to be. Eden knew then, beyond doubt, that Vance knew exactly what he was doing to keep hold of his throne. The sham had been just that, and now he’d been threatened, the real Vance was showing his strength.