The Defender Read online

  “The backlash will eventually result in unconsciousness. You would wake up a half hour later with a nasty migraine and a stomachache.”

  She made a face.

  Renato laughed. “Just be thankful it wasn’t a mental shout. They are much worse. The one that Hadrian let out when he was attacked gave everyone a headache for a week.”

  As Zezilia’s grey eyes came to rest on me, I let out a sigh. “Your brother will never let me forget that.”

  She smiled. “He will when he has something better to remind you of daily.”

  “Hey,” Renato protested and shoved his sister’s shoulder gently.

  “The rooms were empty and secure, Master,” Plantonio announced with a salute. “Shall I tell my men to set up rotations?”

  “No, Plantonio.” I pushed myself to my feet. “Renato has secured our new rooms in the lower eastern edge of the palace. There weren’t enough rooms available to make us comfortable, but enough to house us. They will also be easier to defend.”

  “Very well, Master.” Relief underlined his response. I couldn’t help agreeing with him. These rooms were dingy and poorly placed for security. With Zez in our company, the location in the young men’s quarters—a place known for lewd activities and rowdy parties­—was highly inappropriate.

  Renato went off to find Giles and the entourage coordinator. I turned to offer Zez a hand up from the floor only to find her on her feet and offering me something instead.

  “I didn’t know what to do with it,” she said as she held up the feathered dart.

  “I will take care of that, Donellea.” Plantonio plucked it from her fingers.

  “Check it for—”

  “I know, Master,” he replied before I could finish my sentence. “She doesn’t need to know how close she came to death.” His sage taste brought my gaze to his face in time to catch a respectful nod toward Zez. “I will have it tested for poison, Master.” He tucked it into a pouch at his waist and then resumed his stiff stance.

  “What was he to check for?” Zez’s mint brushed my senses as she smiled her thanks at Plantonio

  “Spoiled stracken and contaminants.” It wasn’t a lie. “The last crop of berries contained a fungus that has some nasty side effects when they were distilled into stracken. The fungus-contaminated plants were eliminated. Next year’s crop will be significantly smaller than normal but clear of the problem. However, all stracken is suspect until then.”

  She nodded. “And it only has a limited storage time before it spoils as it is, right?”

  “Exactly.”

  “The escort is ready,” Renato informed me from the open doorway.

  “Then, we should start moving. There is list of tasks I want completed before the noon meal, and Giles will need me there to dress as soon as he unpacks.”

  Forming up into an honor guard with Zez and me in the center, the defenders escorted us through the halls toward our new quarters. I sent up a silent petition to the Almighty that He would help us survive the rest of the day.

  * * *

  Zezilia

  The remaining hour before the noon meal was filled with chaos. Renato’s keys were to three suites of rooms on the ground floor in the farthest reaches of the East Wing. The moment he opened the doors to the center suite, luggage began to appear with servants to unpack it. Hadrian barely had time to indicate the smallest bedroom off the receiving room to me before a formidable older man named Giles appeared and hustled him off into the room on the far left.

  Renato also was too occupied to pay me heed. He gave orders as the luggage continued to appear. I spotted my small box among the stack and retrieved it quickly before it could disappear. Dragging it into my new room, I set it on the ground at the end of the bed and closed the door. The silence was wonderful.

  This room was a vast improvement over the previous one. The walls gave off a pale green glow from the shadows, but the color wasn’t overwhelming. A single, wide bed dominated the wall opposite the door. It called to me seductively. I longed to lie down and rest my aching head, but the noon meal was only a half hour away. I turned away resolutely and tried to ignore the steady throb at my temples.

  “Donellea?” Plantonio’s muffled voice queried clearly from the opposite side of the door.

  “Just a moment,” I replied.

  After pulling the fabric of my uniform smooth with a quick tug, I composed my face and opened the door.

  Upon seeing me, the chief defender saluted. “The sept son requests your presence in his quarters.” He smiled at my surprise. “He is ready to brief you on what is going to happen this afternoon.”

  I returned his salute and followed him out into the receiving area. Surprisingly, it was empty except for the two defenders standing at attention outside Hadrian’s door.

  “This way,” Plantonio prompted. He approached the defenders. One saluted and the second opened the door and announced us.

  “Defender Plantonio and Defender Ilar, Master.”

  Hadrian stood in the middle of the room, facing the windows looking out onto a patio. His eyes were closed, and his face relaxed, a picture of calm midst the storm as Giles fussed about with Hadrian’s uniform, muttering. Renato sat at the desk along the far wall, reading out loud a missive from someone. As I listened, I guessed it was a trainer seeking advice. A fourth man, whom I didn’t recognize, bent over the two trunks by the wardrobe, searching through them for something.

  “I can’t find it, Giles!” the fourth man cried, drowning out Renato in his panic. He stood and lifted up two drapes of fabric of midnight blue. “There are only the two plain ones here. The gold edged is missing.” The young man’s voice cracked.

  Giles responded by swearing loudly. “Those idiots. They think they can search everything.”

  Renato turned to glare at Giles.

  “Giles.” Hadrian’s voice barely lifted above a normal timber, but it effectively silenced everyone. I looked to his face and was surprised to find he still hadn’t opened his eyes. The small lines around them had tightened though. “The plain will do.”

  “But Master, we want to show them that we aren’t inconvenienced or flustered. You need to look your best.”

  “The plain is fine, Giles. Being late would be an even greater shame.”

  Giles bowed his head and then motioned the young man over to Hadrian’s side. Hadrian’s tunic, a midnight blue edged in gold with intricate clasps, hugged his broad shoulders like a glove and emphasized his tanned skin and dark hair beautifully. He looked regal even before Giles began to attach the last piece.

  The vetus, a large piece of solid weave, harkened from the ancient days when the rulers only wore garments wrapped and draped about the body. It was a sign of power and influence to have it as part of one’s uniform. The sept son’s official attire included one from the origin of the office. One end was woven through an intricate clasp which was attached to the left shoulder. Then the fabric draped once around the body, across the chest and behind the back, before being wrapped around the left forearm once. The sept son’s vetus was dyed exactly the same deep blue of his tunic and leggings.

  As Giles was wrapping the tail around the sept son’s left arm, Hadrian opened his eyes.

  “Renato, I will dictate a reply to the letter this evening.”

  “Do you want me to make any notations for you?” my brother asked.

  “No, the answer will be straightforward. The problem isn’t difficult.”

  As Renato began to clear the desk, stowing the scattered papers neatly in a worn leather satchel, Hadrian turned to me.

  “Sorry about that.” Weariness came with his sending. I couldn’t help frowning at the magnitude of it.

  “No harm done, Master.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Master? I thought we agreed you would call me Hadrian.”

  “I forgot. Sorry.”

  He smiled, and despite the worry lines and tiredness of his eyes, it was a pleasant sight. “Now, I believe you are here for a briefing
on the events of the day to come. Renato, would you read me my itinerary?”

  Retrieving a deep brown colored parchment, Renato began reading off the events: “Noon meal with the kings and first royal council directly afterwards. Depending on how long that lasts, several appointments are scheduled for this afternoon. Then a state dinner.”

  Hadrian nodded to me. “For the meal, you will be part of my entourage. Follow me into the dining hall three steps back and two to the right. When we approach the table, servants will pull out the chairs. I shall sit first, and then you wait until Renato’s signal to be seated. The meal should be straight forward. Having met your mother, I am certain that you have the training for highly formal meals.” He smiled at me.

  Giles had begun brushing non-existent dirt from the shoulders of Hadrian’s tunic, while the younger man cleaned and straightened the pant legs.

  Hadrian ignored them. “After the meal, I rise first. I will wait for you and Renato to rise and step back before moving away from the table. Follow again at the same placement until we have left the dining hall.”

  “Don’t forget about the food,” Renato commented without looking up. The desk was clear, and the bulging satchel refused to close despite his efforts.

  “Ah, yes.” Hadrian smiled. “If food appears on your plate without it being served, it will be from mine. You can eat it if you like. If I leave anything on my plate, the chef is deemed unsatisfactory.”

  I nodded again. It was a small fact that I had picked up from my brothers the last time I attended the Caelestis Novem three years ago.

  Giles finished his fussing and asked Hadrian a question. As he turned away to answer, my brother sighed. Giving up on the catch on the leather holder, he frowned over at me. “We have gotten so far behind that I can’t even buckle the thing.”

  “Are all of them letters?” I asked.

  “Yes, that and plans for various activities. Here.” He passed the bundle to Plantonio. “See that Arileaus receives it. I don’t have time to deliver it. We are running late as it is.” The commanding defender bowed as Renato turned to Hadrian. “We need—”

  “I know,” Hadrian responded. “Is everyone assembled?” he asked Plantonio.

  “Awaiting your command, Master.”

  “Then, we are ready.” Straightening his tunic one last time, Hadrian squared his shoulders and composed his face. Following Renato’s lead, I hurriedly got into position, three steps back and two to Hadrian’s right.

  As Plantonio opened the door to the receiving room, my stomach fluttered with sudden butterflies. It was time. Please let me not miss a step, I asked the Almighty. Hadrian moved forward, and I pulled my full concentration to my duties. Energy field raised and senses alert, I paraded behind, matching Hadrian and my brother’s even stride. He is depending on me. They are depending on me. Please, Almighty, let me be glorifying to You.

  Hadrian’s warm taste flooded my mouth. “Relax. Everything will be fine.”

  “But what if I do something wrong?”

  “We will cover for you.”

  “What if...”

  A wave of gentle assurance flooded my thoughts, hushing my fears. It was a strange sensation, but I suddenly knew that he understood. He had stood in my shoes not that long ago, and he wouldn’t let me fall.

  “Thank you.”

  “Now ease up on the thickness of your energy. I can barely see with my energy sight.” Amusement flickered from him, tempering the request.

  I obediently eased the energy field, thinning my concentration. “Sorry.”

  * * *

  Chapter III

  Hadrian

  Her nervousness seemed to melt as the dinner progressed. I didn’t spend much time speaking with her since Renato kept pestering me about matters of the Trainers and Trainees that I would be addressing the following day. Because of all the time he spent talking, he hardly ate at all. I was only able to sneak a few morsels over to his plate before it looked fuller than when he started. I glanced over at Zez’s plate to find she hadn’t eaten at all. But, she at least had the presence of mind to move the servings around to try to disguise it.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked her.

  She jumped a little at my thought touch and then lifted her eyes to meet mine. The tension within their gray depths pulled at my heart. I reconsidered yet again my decision to bring her into this mess.

  “No. I am just not hungry. Do you need to move food?”

  “No, but you need to eat something. We have a long afternoon ahead of us, and you need your strength.”

  I caught a wave of shame as she dropped her eyes. I could almost hear her castigating herself for not thinking of the work ahead. “Don’t.”

  She looked up again in surprise.

  “Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re doing fine for someone just thrown into this.” I smiled slightly. “You’re handling it better than I did my first day.”

  “Not true,” she protested. “I was there, remember. You handled it beautifully.”

  “Trust me, it wasn’t perfect.” Her eyes communicated her unwillingness to believe me clearly enough, but she dropped the matter as Renato yet again touched my arm. As I turned to speak to him, she loaded up her fork.

  “Master Korneli and his charge have arrived, Master. He wishes to speak to you before the Royal Council.”

  “Do we have time?”

  “If you leave immediately after the last course by way of the gardens and meet him as we walk to the council chamber.”

  I nodded. “Then make it happen.”

  Renato inclined his head. His eyes lowered to his plate as he began making arrangements via sendings with the defenders around us.

  “What is happening?” Zezilia was carefully eating with her attention on her plate, but her sending came across clearly.

  “Korneli and his student are here, and he is requesting an audience before the royal council. We are going to meet them in the gardens on the way to the council chamber.”

  “Eldivo is here?”

  “During the formal meetings, you will have to use his proper name, Septimus Pewlin, but yes, he is here.” I watched her carefully for a reaction. Nothing flickered across her face or hesitated her movements. Obviously, my plans for the two of them becoming a pairing were not to come to fruition.

  “Pardon me, Sept Son,” a servant murmured as he leaned over my left shoulder to remove the used plate. A moment later he was back with a laden dish of fruit, delicacies of all the regions. I lifted my spoon to take the first bite when a sudden cry echoed through my thoughts.

  “Don’t eat it!” Zez’s mint almost overwhelmed my senses in the strength of the sending. Only training kept me from dropping the utensil in my hand. Turning to her as calmly as though nothing had happened, I found her watching me through stricken eyes. “It is poisoned.”

  I carefully set down the spoon. A knot filled my stomach. I knew what I must do, but I dreaded what the result might be. Signaling the server to approach, I lifted the bowl from the table.

  “Yes, Master?” He was of medium build and every inch a properly trained servant. He bowed regally, avoiding my gaze.

  “Taste this for me,” I commanded. Color drained from the server’s face, instantly confirming his guilt.

  “But Master…” He floundered for a reason to refuse my order.

  “You are faced with a choice. Eat and die now, or don’t eat and die later.” Renato tensed as he suddenly realized what was happening at his elbow. I knew that within moments defenders would surround us. Trusting him to do his duty, I kept my attention on the man kneeling at my shoulder. “The penalty for attempting to take the life of the sept son is death by hanging. Which shall it be?”

  Indecision moved across his face. His gaze flickered to my face briefly as though to see if I was in earnest in giving him a choice. “I shall risk the court, Master.”

  I almost sighed in relief. I didn’t want to watch another’s life eaten away by poison. At least th
is way, I wouldn’t have to witness his death.

  “A wise choice.”

  Three burly defenders appeared behind the servant with hands at the ready. “Rise and go with the men behind you. May the Almighty grant you grace.” I felt his surprise at my words as he shakily rose to his feet. The defenders lost no time in securing him in their custody and leaving the room. An uneasy silence hung in their wake as the heavy main doors closed.

  Lifting my eyes, I surveyed the faces before me. The high king met my gaze with obvious concern while the mesitas made no attempt to disguise the hatred in his face. Many of the kings lowered their eyes, but King Sabine sneered and turned away to speak to Ilar at his left. King Ilar didn’t look as pleased. He spoke agitatedly in Sabine’s ear. I would guess that he was angry that his daughter, his most powerful pawn at the moment, had been so close to danger. Suddenly I could tolerate no more of this charade. I rose to my feet so forcefully that my chair scraped the floor.

  Without a word, Zez and Renato also rose. I was sure that Renato was going to give me an earful about all the protocols I was violating, but I didn’t care. I made my way around the table and into the center of the room. Defenders formed ranks behind me, and Renato and Zez stepped into place as though this were normal procedure. Striding to stand before the high king’s table, I saluted High King Deucalion Marcellus in the most elaborate manner possible.

  “Pardon me, my king, but I must excuse myself from your presence prematurely. Please grant us grace to depart.”

  Marcellus rose and returned the salute. “Grace is granted, Sept Son Aleron. I hope that you shall be present for the council in an hour’s time.”

  “It will be my pleasure, my lord,” I replied and bowed deeply. The rustle of cloth behind me assured me that my whole party was following suit. “Until then, may you be blessed.”

  “And you also,” he replied.

  I turned and walked as quickly as possible without appearing to run out of the room and into the silent dimness of the outer corridor. All I could think of was leaving behind the hatred. I would have to face it again in an hour, but until then, I could breathe.