Amaskan's Blood, Raven Oak [read me a book .TXT] 📗

in the castle to give me a room in the servants’ quarters.”

Lady Millicent sniffed. “I guess a room amongst the staff is better than no room at all. Still, someone with a good name should be housed somewhere more appropriate.”

“I think the rooms are full with the wedding,” said Lady Angelina. “Have you seen the healers yet?”

“I’m to see them tomorrow as well.”

“Good. Maybe you will recall what has happened to you. And by whom,” said Lady Millicent.

With another jaw-cracking yawn, Adelei stood and bowed. “By your leave, I will retreat, my ladies.”

“We shall talk again, child. Come see me after you’ve seen the healers.”

As Adelei turned to the leave, Lady Millicent called out, “Wait. We must have something, some name by which to call you.”

“I remember not my name.”

“Let’s call you Alethea.” Adelei flinched, but the woman continued without noticing. “It means truth, my dear, for surely we will find the truth in all of this.”

I know what it means. The room suddenly felt cold. I hope my truth isn’t found. That could get everyone killed. At the woman’s dismissal, Adelei retreated to the hall where she sought the shadows. The fourth floor map would have to wait. For now she would avoid the people returning from supper as she sought the stairs.

The number of guards on the third and fourth floors was astounding. She was asked to identify herself ten times on the way to her own room. Tomorrow she could get started on the job. Right now, she wanted to fall into bed and away from all the thoughts chasing themselves around her heart and brain. Focus on the job before her, and how she was going to track down the killer in their midst.

Just before she passed through the door to the Princess’s suite, the glint of gold caught her attention as it reflected the light in the hall. Adelei followed it down to a head of thinning grey hair and ducked into the sitting room before her father could speak with her.

She didn’t have time for that. She had a job to do.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The chair was normally comfortable, but this evening, the plush reminded Leon of the age of his body as his joints ached in rhythm to his heart. The drawing room was empty for the time being, but King Leon waited for the betrayer. I don’t know whether to be proud or aggrieved by what has become of my daughter. Ah, Iliana, where did you go?

When the door opened, he didn’t need to look up to recognize her light steps. “You took your time getting here,” he said to the former captain.

Ida Warhammer knelt before him, and he waved an idle hand in her general direction. She said nothing for a time, leaving him to gather his thoughts before speaking. I used to appreciate that trait. At least before she— In the back of his mind, a small voice asked, did what? Told the truth? Would you rather she had lied and remained hidden? Leon shifted his attention to her and away from his own double-crossing mind.

The grey in her hair had multiplied in recent months, and her shoulders slumped. It was a look of defeat, something he’d never seen in her, and for a moment, he ached to hold her.

The tiled floor stretched out for several horse lengths, the stone gilded with hints of silver and gold, and yet the empty room was too crowded. Leon whispered, “Did I make the right decision fifteen years ago?”

“Goefrin brought a very appealin’ choice before ya and your advisors. Said it was the only way to keep Alexander from ruin. What else could ya do?”

Her words made sense. They were thoughts he’d worked out himself many times, but they didn’t keep the doubt from eating at him. Leon shut his eyes. “Despite my wishes for her, Iliana has returned, but she’s not who I thought she would be. I thought that surely she would remember me, remember Alexander. That maybe, despite being a killer, I could save her somehow.”

When Ida said nothing, he continued, “How did this happen? All I wanted was my daughter back, safe and sound. Instead they send me this… this assassin. I’m afraid of my own child.”

“You fear her ’cause she returned Amaskan.”

“Yes.”

A sea of blue met his earthy gaze as she sat beside him. It was Catherine’s chair, now Margaret’s, but he didn’t mind Ida being there. Her eyes reminded him more of the ice of the Cretian Mountains than the Harren Sea, and he shivered. How does she do that? How can she make me feel like a child with just a look? And then her words reminded him.

“Are ya afraid of me? I was Amaskan, and yet I recall times when there was more between us than fear and loathin’.”

He flushed to remember and then cursed her under his breath. It was a reminder his loins enjoyed more than his heart these days. “Only an assassin could speak of love and death in the same sentence with little distinction. And no, I’d not forgotten your betrayal.”

Ida flinched and removed her hand from his arm. “Have ya decided whether or not to kill me?”

“As much as I’d like to, I can’t. I never could,” he whispered and patted her hand. “But I can’t trust you.”

“I brought her home.”

“Yes, you brought Adelei of Amaska to Alexander. I fear that my child, my Iliana is dead. Gone these past fifteen years.”

“Leon,” she said, and her image swam in his tears. “I’m sorry. I can’t ever undo what I’ve done.”

“I know.”

“What would ya have me do?”

King Leon sighed. “I’m removing you as sepier. You will retain your former captain status, but I need someone I can trust in that position.”

Ida nodded. “I expected as much. Will ya give it to her instead?”

“No. I can’t trust her either.” King Leon removed the silver circlet from his brow and stared at the thirteen amethysts as they pulsed in the sunlight streaming