Jon and Celenda, Michael E. Shea [novels to read for beginners txt] 📗

five fold in Gazu Tevel. She marveled at the cyclopean spires that cut into the sky like knife blades. She dined with the finest people on the finest foods. She bathed daily in cool water. She talked and listened to the nobles of Gazu Tevel and she soon became one of them.

It was three weeks before they returned to Gazu Kadem and another two before she saw Jon again. It was at a small feast for the Danken's fourth cousin and his marriage to his third wife. Jon stood straight in a perfectly clean white tunic buttoned in gold up to his chin. His blue eyes pierced into her and she felt her heart leap. It sunk quickly when she remembered Severn's hands on her.

Most of the party passed before they could speak. She found herself on a stone deck looking out over the fires burning from the slave pits. She shivered. Jon stood next to her, his strong hands gripping the stone bannister. He spoke low, his voice smooth.

"Dan Trex and his military advisors have been meeting with the Danken every day for a week. They are planning a campaign but we know not against whom. The advisors will gather, Severn among them. Find out what they plan."

Celenda felt cold. This was the man who saved her life twice. The man who held her and made love to her until tears fell from their eyes. Though she had pushed him from her mind during her time away, she still dreamed of him, still wondered how he would be with her. Now she knew. He cared nothing for her at all.

"Will you be able to do this?" Jon asked. Celenda nodded.

"It will be easy. I am to be his second wife."

Jon hadn't drank for two years but he found it easy to return. He kept a list of all the taverns, brothels, and ale stands in the eastern walls of the city in his head. He knew which ones had the ear of the king, which had the eyes of Dan Trex, which one had the best women, and in which ones he could get safely drunk and not have his throat cut. Drinking came easy but it did little to sooth him.

He loved her. He couldn't admit that to himself until he had found out she would marry the man who had betrayed her father. He knew it when he saw her wearing the twin-emerald ring that marked her as Leigh's second wife. He hadn't gone to the ceremony even though doing so would have been easy. He didn't know if the wolf inside him would stay tethered. He wanted to rip Leigh in half. He had done so before to men far better than that one.

Each night for four months he would drink and fall asleep thinking of her. He thought about how he had taken a young girl and sent her into the mouth of the lion. He had saved her from falling off the canyon only to throw her off of another one.

He still saw her from time to time, sometimes from afar, sometimes near. Her hair was different and she had gained weight. It hurt him to see her changing and know he was not a part of it. He could drink all he wanted but he still loved her.

Gabe came in, that same blank expression on his round face. Jon had spent his life acting upon the expressions on one's face. To see no expression at all made him very uncomfortable.

Gabe wore a light violet tunic and black loose trousers with a pair of soft tan boots. Though he wore no family insignia, he was clearly dressed as nobility and the ale house masters treated him as such. Gabe sat on the cushion opposite Jon. He didn't speak until his drink was placed in front of him.

"She married him." Jon said.

"I know, it is quite the scandal," said Gabe.

"It's dangerous," said Jon. "We may have to pull her out."

Gabe didn't reply for a moment. He just stared at Jon with the same blank expression on his face.

"She's safer married to a noble than she was before. No one would risk hurting the wife of an advisor to the Danken."

"Someone tried to kill her when no one knew she was in the city. If they find out what she is now, they'll burn her like her father."

"No they won't," said Gabe. "Severn Leigh is in a web. His allies are few and the other advisors want him gone. He offers solid advice to the Danken and his information goes further and deeper than their own. If they find out that he has a northern spy in his bed, the whole house will burn."

Gabe sipped his drink and continued.

"Sometimes doing nothing is the best action we can take." Gabe paused, his eyes on Jon. "Do nothing, my friend. We will soon know what we need to know and then we can pull her out."

Celenda woke on a bed of silk. She dozed in the early morning, letting the beams of the red sun roll across the room. Her bodyservant entered and filled Celenda's bath with fresh water and oils while Celenda rose and stared out over the city. Life in Leigh's apartments was beyond the best of dreams. It was a life of luxury. Celenda spent her days as she wished, only having to suffer Severn occasionally in her bed. It was worse after the wedding, but now, two years later, his tastes and attention had returned to his first wife.

Celenda stood by the window feeling hot air blow over her skin. "He's out there," she thought to herself. "I wish I was with him."

Dressed and bathed, Celenda walked past Leigh's study. Someone had left the door open and she saw the large leaf of parchment on the oak desk. Her heart jumped and she remembered Jon's words to her. She could walk on and continue her life as nobility or she could do what Jon had asked of her.

She walked into the room and closed the door.

She had changed much since he had last seen her, but when her eyes were the same and when Jon saw them he wanted to cry. She sat next to him and his heart jumped when he smelled her. She drew a scroll case from her sash and gave it to him.

"I will need to get back soon, but you must see it."

Jon opened up the parchment and read.

"These are battle plans. Dan Trex plans an invasion of the western city-states; a war against the other Dankens. This would take years. The notes here, these are Leigh's?"

"No, it's his first wife."

Jon sat stunned. Celenda continued.

"Leigh is brainless but docile and he married well. His plans are her plans. His advice is hers. Her servants weave a web of information from all over the city."

Jon continued to look at her and then back to the plans.

"Dan Trex is not invading the north."

"No." Celenda took the scroll, wrapped it, and left.

"What do you mean?"

"The plans were gone when I went to get them but they returned when I came back."

"Someone had taken them?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"..."

"Tell me or I will castrate you in your sleep."

"Celenda."

"How do you know?"

"The servants were with us. She was the only one in the apartments."

"Gods below."

"What do we do?"

"We have to kill her."

"We cannot! They'll know!"

"Not if she gets sick. Many get sick in this city. Even the whore wives of idiots. Leave it to me."

Jon wanted to break Gabe's neck when he finally saw him. Three weeks he had waited. Only now had the agent of the Eye bothered to show up.

"She's right." Gabe said when his drink was in front of him. "Dan Trex already begins training for siege warfare against pikes and arrows. She's right about Leigh too. His brilliance has only been as deep as his wife's instructions."

"What of Celenda." said Jon. Gabe waited before speaking.

"She is ill," said Gabe. "She is confined to her chambers and only Leigh's wife is allowed to care for her."

"We have to get her."

"We cannot, Jon. We have what we need. If we expose ourselves who knows how it will affect us. She knows what she risked for the security of the north."

"She cares nothing for the north."

"No. She cares for you," said Gabe. "And you did your job. Meddle now and the Eye will know of it, Jon. It is time to go."

Sickness filled the room. Celenda felt weak from vomiting and her legs felt like soft wood. She was going to die. She knew that now and the thought was almost comforting. She had seen Sara pouring the black powder into her drink and she knew when she saw that, two weeks before she began getting sick, that she was going to die. She drank the drink anyway.

A commotion outside cut into the dullness of her mind. Shouting and the clang of metal. She rose, her feet numb as she went to the door. It took great effort to open it. She came out and down the hall. Servants ran past, eyes wide as they stared at her. She went to the balcony overlooking the entryway. Two guards stood, halberds in hand. Leigh and Sara stood behind them.

Jon was at the door.

Gone was his garb of the northern ambassador. He now wore black and leather. His riding boots were dusty.

"This is an outrage! Your king will hear of this," said Sara. Leigh stood at her side, mouth open.

"You can call it whatever you like. I want Celenda."

"You expect us to hand you his wife?"

"Leigh, we must speak. Alone."

Leigh moved stiffly to Jon. Jon leaned in and whispered. Sara looked panicked.

"Cut him down," she said to the guards.

"Silence!" shouted Leigh. "Celenda, come."

Celenda began stepping down the stairs but dizziness overtook her. She fell but he was there. Jon lifted her into his arms.

"He has the medicine that can help her," said Leigh.

"Fool!" yelled Sara.

Celenda put her arms around Jon's neck. She felt the tightness in him. Jon turned towards the door and began to walk out but a figure blocked him.

The man was big, with steel hair, steel eyes, and black armor accented with gold. A rough scar cut across his face, disjointing his nose. Celenda felt Jon stop short.

"Dan Trex," said Leigh. Sara's cry cut short. "Good evening to you."

"I had hoped for a meeting, Severn Leigh." said Trex. His eyes moved from Celenda to Jon. "I appear to have picked a poor time." His voice was smooth and deep. While energy coursed through everyone in the room, Dan Trex was fully relaxed.

"What is happening?" asked Trex.

"My wife is ill. Our friend wishes to take her with him to a healer."

"And you do not go with him?"

Jon spoke. "I am an ambassador of the north..."

Dan Trex cut him off quickly and cleanly. Until now, Jon had been the most confident and powerful man Celenda had ever known but Trex was something else. His words caused cities to crumble and thousands to die. His voice was power and he knew it.

"I know who you are. I can say three words and you would disappear. No one would ever speak of you again."

"I just want the girl." said Jon.

No one spoke for a long moment. No one made a sound.

"Go." said Trex. Jon left and Celenda hung onto him. "Severn Leigh, we have much to discuss."

Celenda felt