Page 34 of Veil of Vasara (Fate of the Five #1)

CHAPTER 34 – ELIAS

“H ow could this have happened?” I stared at Trenton.

He sighed and glanced at Raynard who was shaking his head. The two men had ushered me here, an adjoining room to the throne’s, within minutes of blood being spilt before its seat.

Within minutes of Eliel’s life nearly having ended.

“The King had ordered that Vessel to undertake a mission on his behalf. He was meant to have set out hours before the ceremony. We’ve sent out scouts to search for the guard who was accompanying him when he departed. We anticipate that he will be found…dead,” Trenton explained.

A Vessel conducting a mission? This was monumentally, unfathomably absurd.

“Why wasn’t I informed of this?” I asked.

Fargreaves crossed his arms. “With all due respect, My Lord, you were not present when it was discussed, and decided upon.”

I couldn’t believe that Eliel would have made a decision this reckless. His Councilmen of course…but him?

But Eliel still didn’t understand what sorcerers were capable of.

I took a deep breath. “You collectively decided that it would be a good idea, to send a Vessel on a sensitive mission, I assume, without him having been branded or marked. Presumably, his chains would have to be removed at some point during the journey. So, he would have been free to do whatever he wished.”

The four men looked at each other warily. “The King provided incentive enough for him to fulfil the task,” Trenton said.

That woman. It must have been.

“Even so, that incentive was something he managed to obtain himself. I’m assuming those who were guarding that woman are dead as well?”

“Yes,” Fargreaves confirmed dryly. “We have already found them dead. They stabbed themselves with their own swords.”

I winced at those words, at the memories they ignited. It wouldn’t have been difficult for that Telepath to manipulate them into ending their own lives. He had stopped a whole hall of people from moving without a hitch of breath.

“This is a disaster.” I placed my hand over my face.

Trenton spoke up. “If it hadn’t been for Audra’s Prince, our King would likely be dead.”

“And he wasn’t even supposed to be an escort,” Fargreaves added.

Yes, the Vulture had saved my cousin’s life. Of all people. I suppose I’d have to thank him for that at some point.

“And with Noxstone, of all things.” Raynard’s voice was thick with horror. “I’ve never seen its…effects, up close.”

I had. Many times. Noxstone was the only kind of blade that could prevent a sorcerer from healing themselves and so, Eliel’s father had made efforts to arm Vasara’s soldiers with it.

He didn’t know the cost…none of them knew…

Yes, it stops sorcerers from healing themselves, but that’s not all it can do…

“Did you know about his choice, My Lord?” Fargreaves interrupted my thoughts.

I sighed. “No. I didn’t. But stopping the ceremony was out of the question. Weren’t you made aware of his decision?”

Nobody responded.

Trenton stroked the stubble on his chin. “I can’t fathom what his reasoning might have been.”

“And what of the Courting Season. Will the candidates remain? What if they withdraw?” Raynard asked.

“Is that his plan then? To eliminate any possibility of taking a wife?” Fargreaves said despondently.

“He was opposed to this Season in the first place,” Raynard added.

“Either way, the Season would have come around eventually,” Fargreaves reminded him.

Wayman rubbed his forehead. “Now that the King has sacrificed his chance at having an heir, this won’t be the last time something like this happens. What are we to do? Who knew the young Prince would turn out to be such a reckless man?”

“Eliel is anything but reckless,” I spoke. “Whatever his motivations, they will have a purpose. Even if we cannot see it.”

Fagreaves huffed. “What would you know about such affairs? Your participation in them is conveniently elective, My Lord .”

“You know almost nothing about Vessels, Fargreaves, or at least, far less than you think you do, and yet you underestimate them, time and time again. Today was the result.”

“I know far more about them than you assume, My Lord,” Fagreaves spat.

“Really?” My voice was flat with disbelief, as were my brows.

Fargreaves stepped towards me aggressively. “It is easy to criticise the decisions of others, when you dedicate your life to the absolution of them.”

I turned to Trenton, who was examining the scene with interest. “Does your offer still stand?”

Fargreaves turned around to look over his shoulder. “What is he talking about?”

Trenton, ignoring him, replied. “Yes. It does.”

“Then I will be happy to accept.” I turned to Fargreaves, who was still looking at Trenton bewilderedly.

I took his hand in mine, which made him turn around abruptly. I shook it. “Looking forward to working with you, on a non-elective basis.”

Fargreaves snapped his hand from my grasp. “What is this, Trenton? This man” —he pointed at me without looking— “doesn’t take anything seriously.”

“I take an assassination attempt on my cousin very seriously.”

Fargreaves laughed and dropped his arm. “But not a successful one on your aunt and uncle. That… you are decidedly lackadaisical about.”

I scoffed, but I couldn’t deny there was some truth in what he had said. I hadn’t pursued their killers thoroughly enough. I’d had complicated feelings when I had heard they’d passed.

Wayman added. “It’s well known that Lord Elias and his former Majesty did not see eye to eye.”

Wayman was right, Elion and I had never agreed upon most things. Upon his strategies, upon his obsession with eliminating sorcerers, upon his disregard for his own men.

But Gods was I really that kind of person? The kind of person who only cared when the people close to me were hurt, and not when others were?

“I hope that will not be the case for us, Sir,” I said to Fargreaves.

Fargreaves tutted, and just as he did, a servant approached him, whispering something in his ear. Without saying anything, he turned around and left with him.

The rest of the Council dispersed, and I made my way back to my chambers. The buckles and straps of my overly ornate tunic smacked against my hip painfully. I closed my eyes and imagined the bliss that would be the wine slipping down my throat as I took this thing off and…

My door was open.

There were no guards in the hallway. They must have been called to cover the stations those who had died had occupied.

It didn't shock me. I'd been dismissing the guards shadowing me for years. They were only ever at my door as a formality, and only when I lacked the energy to tell them to fuck off.

But it was amusing how quick they were to drop that formality. To remind me, they placed as much value on my life as the pigs slaughtered for their feasts. They'd sooner place a crown on one's head than mine.

As would I. It would fit in well with the rest of the Nobility, at least.

I stood still and listened. I looked down at where the floor of my room was just about visible. Shadows were cast across the slither I could see, and a man’s voice sounded from inside.

“I know what you’re doing. Do you think you can fool me? I saw you…”

I squinted, the gritty voice was faintly recognizable, but I couldn’t quite place it.

“Do you?” he said again.

“Get off me.”

I recognised that voice.

As quietly as my movements would allow, I slid inside the gap, and closed the door behind me.

Maiwen’s escort had her backed against the wall. She was in a pale blue nightgown, her left hand clenched tightly around a darker blue shawl she had wrapped around herself. His right hand was on her wrist.

Both looked at me as soon as I entered.

“Why do you look so surprised, Sir? This is my room, isn’t it?” I spoke slowly, trying to assess the situation.

He didn’t move. Maiwen glanced down, as if she were embarrassed.

“I think you should comply with the Princess’ request." I pointed at his hands.

He stood back slightly but did not let go of the Princess. He turned towards me.

“My Lord, there has been a misunderstanding. The Princess is distressed from today’s most troubling events. She has been quite hysterical, I’m afraid, and ended up fleeing around the Palace. I can assure you, it wasn’t my intention to end up inviting myself here.”

“No…no, I,” the Princess started. She looked at me pleadingly, “That’s not true.”

“Sir,” I faced him. “Remove your hand from the Lady’s wrist.”

He brought her hand down by his side but didn’t let go of it. The Princess struggled to free herself from his grip.

“This is for her own safety, you understand.” He made a move for the door, dragging the Princess with him.

I blocked his way, pressing my hand against his upper chest to stop him.

“My Lord, I would never—"

“Harm the Princess? Why are you gripping her wrist so tightly then?”

“So that she will not get lost." He tried to move around me. It didn’t work.

“I’m not quite sure she was lost in the first place.”

He breathed through his nostrils. “My Lord, it is with the greatest respect that I say this, but you do not know the Princess, she is not quite…well.”

“Will removing your fucking hand from her worsen her health significantly?” I snapped.

The man was clearly startled by my change in tone.

“My Lord,” he said reproachfully, as if he intended to reprimand me for my outburst. “Are you drunk?”

I surprisingly wasn’t.

I kicked him in the kneecap. He fell to the floor and the Princess began to fall with him. I caught her before she did and stepped back immediately.

“There, look, the Princess is still alive. What a fucking surprise.”

The Princess was rubbing her wrist with her other hand and looking at the man.

“How dare you—" The man stood, facing us both.

“How dare I? What? Stop you from attacking the Princess here. You’re fucking pathetic.”

“I…My Lord…I was not attacking her!” His eyes were wide with alarm. “These accusations—"

“Accusations? Do you think I’m a complete fool?”

The man sputtered and stuttered, looking at the Princess.

“Don’t look at her. Look at me. She isn’t going to save you. Nobody is going to save you. This time tomorrow you’ll be crawling back to wherever you came from. Actually no… I think I’ll let the Jurasan King know about this, let’s see what he has to say about your behaviour.”

“No!” Maiwen said, much to both of our surprise.

I turned to face her. My brows furrowed in confusion.

“See, My Lord! She knows the truth.” He pointed a stubby finger at her face. “I was simply asking her—"

I smacked his finger away.

Maiwen stood behind me.

“Jurasan King or no, you will no longer be escorting the Princess. I’m sure we can come up with another reason to strip you of your title if the Princess doesn’t wish to share this one.”

“I will not have this!” he exclaimed.

“Get out, I will—"

Before I could tell him that I would escort the Princess back myself, he lunged for me, with his sword.

I jumped back, bumping into the Princess. Her hands grabbed the tops of my arms as she steadied herself, to stop herself from falling over.

“I won’t have an excuse for a Lord like you ruin my reputation! You don’t even know what’s going on here! You’re nothing more than a…than…than a…drunkard!”

He lunged at me again. I wasn’t carrying any weapons, as we had been instructed to remove them for the ceremony.

Still his attack was clumsy, and anger fuelled, I dodged it easily. He went for me again, I tried to jump back, but the Princess’ presence behind me stopped me from doing so. I had no choice but to stop the clumsy strike of the blade with my hand, wincing as it cut deep into my palm. Maiwen gasped.

“Fuck!” I said out loud. “You’re making a big mistake, Sir. Back away and leave, now.”

He ignored me, and with a grunt of fury, went for me again.

This was going to be a terrible fucking way to die.

Then there was blood, on my tunic, on my overly ornate straps and buckles, casting dark shades across the embroidery and the silk.

The man had fallen on top of me.

My sword was in his chest.

I turned around. Standing there, with both her hands shaking around the hilt, and her shawl fallen to the floor, was Maiwen.

She placed one hand over her mouth, staring at me wide eyed in shock.

I was staring back at her in kind.

The man sank down my clothes and to the ground. I leant over his body, pressing my ear to his chest.

I raised my head. Maiwen was looking at me with a silent question in her eyes.

“He’s dead,” I whispered.

“My, my!” a voice came from behind us. “This day is just getting more and more interesting.”

I stood instantly and turned around. He was standing in front of the closed door, his golden eyes gleaming like a cat’s on a dark night.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who took a life today.”