Pawn of the Crown Read online

  “I’ll have Cragna take a stab at her anyway. We’ll hold her.” Seelon made notes on his tablet.

  He was fishing to see how I’d react to the idea of her being kept here and possibly tortured. I remained outwardly serene.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you?” I asked.

  Seelon sighed. “Did you get anything more from her?”

  “He’s headed for the border. Another country, not for the city or any friends. He fears he’ll be caught there. You already were working under that assumption. I think he may already be across, but it’s way too far for me to sense. I can’t connect to him over that sort of distance.” I smiled weakly. “If you think of anything else, please ask. I’ll do whatever I can.”

  “Thank you. You may go.” He gestured to the door.

  I left and reviewed the awkward encounter as I walked. He had to interview me, but I outranked him. I was stronger than he was. He’d played it carefully and well. My aunt needed a lesson in manners, but there was nothing new about that fact.

  I hoped our troops got to my father before he made it over the border, but if he’d been on the road, even on foot, for a full month without breaks or hiding out, he should be there by now. How could he be missing for so long and no one had raised the issue? I wasn’t perfect, far from it, but someone should be in trouble for not alerting the castle earlier. Covering up mistakes didn’t help the country catch the rebels.

  Chapter 3

  My life had changed greatly since I’d become the Royal Seer. I tried to put the dungeon and interview nonsense out of my head. It felt like a repetition of what my life in the castle had been like when my mother was killed. All the questions and doubts. Moving forward with what I could do with my life was the key. Being normal was all I wanted, and I needed some help. I had a family full of people who counted on me, and I hadn’t asked anything of most of them. It was time to ask for assistance.

  I’d called together the loyal men of my family, which meant my mother’s side only, ones who were age appropriate for Minnette and secured in some sort of profession around the court. The total amounted to about a half dozen eligible young men whom I’d invited to an evening party, of sorts.

  “Some of these men are very distantly related to you. They’re loyal and eligible, but they might be looking to romance you. Nemal will not like this,” Marel said as she arranged the finger food.

  “I’m not hunting for a husband myself. This is for Minnette. I had sort of a vision or a feeling. I’m just following up on it, and we’ll see. No one needs to know anything else. You and Zoma are here to help me evaluate and keep the men busy so they don’t get bored and leave.” I checked myself in the mirror. The dark red dress was a bold choice, but I liked it. The color conveyed authority and power. I’d had my hair trimmed so it teased my shoulders. A slightly more grown up look. It was necessary.

  “If they’re mind readers, won’t they know what you’ve brought them here for?” Zoma asked.

  “I’m stronger than they are, but they can read your minds,” I said. “Minnette is a better catch than I am.”

  Marel lifted an eyebrow and stared at me.

  “She’ll be queen,” I replied to her silent protest.

  Marel and Minnette had a huge falling out in their youth. Minnette wasn’t my biggest fan, but her mother was queen, so I followed her orders. She wanted her children happily married so the line could be secured and the family settled. A rebel had wooed Minnette before, and that drove the queen’s fears.

  “You’ve tried setting her up with some men around court, and she never likes them,” Zoma said.

  “Love is complex and confusing. Maybe she needs to mature more?” I hated feeling like a failure. People expected me to get visions and have all the answers immediately. The future could change with one person making one decision. Everything was connected and fluid.

  Marel fussed over the table. “I’m in no hurry for love or marriage.”

  “Me either,” I replied.

  Zoma laughed, and Marel rolled her eyes.

  “What?” My cheeks went hot.

  “Please. You’re in love with Nemal.” Zoma grinned. “It’s adorable.”

  “Yeah, you two seem to just fit. I don’t know why you deny it,” Marel said.

  “Because Minnette would lose her mind, and I’m not so sure the queen would approve or even consider it. A Royal Seer has never married into the queen’s family. But that’s so far into the future, it’s crazy to even think about. I have this job for life, and I don’t need any more lifetime commitments.” I checked the mirror again and decided against the tiara. Too imposing of an image.

  “I still think some of the men will be interested in you,” Zoma said.

  The door chimed, and there was no time for a reply. One of the droids opened the door, and three men with dark blond hair stood at the threshold. All brothers, barely a year apart in age.

  I smiled warmly. “Come in. Curlon, Furlon, and Murlon, thank you so much for coming.”

  “Our pleasure,” Curlon said.

  “Those are really your names?” Zoma blurted.

  Marel elbowed Zoma.

  “Our mother wasn’t overly creative. Kept hoping for a girl,” Murlon supplied.

  “I’m sorry. I’m Kimess’ loud and often improper friend,” Zoma replied.

  “Zoma is a genius with computers and anything technical,” I said.

  “A pleasure, Zoma. Lady Kimess, we were so sorry about your mother. Our mother offered to look after you, as well. Being locked up in the castle must be a strange way to grow up.” Curlon stepped close to me. He was the eldest at twenty-two.

  “Thank you, but I’m not locked up. I’m learning on the job, so I’m rather busy.” I nodded and realized my friends were right. The way he was grinning at me wasn’t at all cousinly. Granted, we were very distant cousins. All my first, and even second, cousins were female.

  The door chimed again, and I went to greet my other guests. Brothers Ricor and Zelan, who’d brought their close cousin Micfel. I busied myself introducing them around to everyone and making sure they had refreshments. Marel and the droids were doing the real work, but it was my first official hosting of a function in the castle.

  “If Minnette finds out about this, I think you’ll be in deeper trouble,” Zoma said.

  I bit my lower lip. “Her mother wants her married off. There were no specific rules about how I should or should not go about it.”

  The door chimed, but all the men were here. The droid opened it to LeFawn. I met her in the middle of the room.

  “A party? And you didn’t invite me?” LeFawn pouted, but studied all the men.

  “It’s more of a mini family reunion, of sorts.” I couldn’t ask her to leave. We were old friends, but she was a princess. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “Is this the focus of your efforts, cousin? Finding a husband for your friend?” Curlon asked.

  I sighed. The man was bold. “LeFawn is too young to think of marriage. As am I.” Throwing that in there just felt right.

  “So, someone older?” Micfel’s face went pale as he concluded correctly.

  “There is no pressure or promise. I just had a bit of a vision of a man strong enough for the job at the future queen’s side. Perhaps I overestimated my family,” I said. “If no one stands out in a vision, then this was merely a friendly get together.”

  “Some of us could handle her,” Curlon said.

  “Some of you could not hold your tongue or defer to the queen sufficiently,” I replied.

  “He is a member of the Queen’s Guard. He can follow orders,” Marel said.

  “Good. But discretion and saying the right thing at a diplomatic event is not the same as following orders. You must talk and be pleasant without offending or stirring up trouble.” I ruled out Curlon. He was good for guarding the queen, but not for marrying one.

  “Are we all to be dissected a
nd inspected?” Furlon asked.

  “No, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so blatant, but Curlon seems to invite it. There is no pressure to pursue the princess Minnette, even if I feel one of you might be the best match. My prophetic powers are not infallible. Trust your own. Think about your futures. Some of you may already have your eyes on certain women. I would never disrupt a love match. I simply had a vision that a man from my family was strong, but sensitive enough to be happy and successful as the future queen’s consort.” I picked up a glass of wine. “Long live the queen!”

  Everyone toasted. No one hesitated. I felt the loyalty and pride. My family, the fifth family, was strong and, sometimes, bold, like Curlon, but we were monarchists. I needed to make sure I was regarded as such, as well. My father’s poor behavior had to be a fluke. This evening served a dual purpose and having LeFawn here only made it better.

  “My sister is difficult, but she’s very devoted to the country. I wish I were as pretty as she is,” LeFawn said.

  The men took the bait, surrounding her and showering her with compliments. They made sure to compliment Minnette, as well. Only Furlon broke away and chatted with Marel and Zoma after paying the princess enough attention. I smiled. He’d politely removed himself from the running, yet looked like a good guest, not overlooking the other women. I stuck with LeFawn and listened intently as the men chattered on.

  Curlon was full of interesting conversation and confident in the surroundings. Murlon had tons of funny stories about living on a huge farm. He ran his family farm, but the castle had brought him in to consult on some of his innovative techniques.

  Zelan was quiet, but his background was history, and he was, in fact, at the castle working to preserve ancient books and information that had been recovered from dig sites. I wished he’d start talking. It’d be more interesting.

  The droids circulated with more wine and food. The door chimed, and I headed for it, a welcome break from all the men being so polite, yet wanting to distinguish themselves. I sensed another, very familiar, man behind the door. Nemal stood on the other side, and once he took in the room, his surprise was evident. He managed to hide his annoyance, but I could feel it.

  “Don’t feel bad. She didn’t invite me either,” LeFawn said.

  “What’s going on?” Nemal asked as he approached the big group.

  I pulled him to the side. “Nothing. I just invited over some age appropriate men from the fifth family to see if any of them might work for Minnette. Your mother tasked me with getting her children married. Securing the line is important, so Minnette is first, even though Remmy had found his own true love.”

  “And the right man for Minn is in your family?” he asked.

  “I had a flash of a vision. It seemed like he was. I’m not sure if the man is here. Or maybe he’s not ready, yet.”

  “Maybe they’re interested in you?” he asked.

  “No, that’s not right. I wouldn’t marry someone in my own family, no matter how extended. I’m not looking, either.”

  Standing there alone with Nemal, I felt so much more relaxed. Matchmaking wasn’t something that came naturally to me. I was an only child, and the last of my friends to become infatuated with boys. But when you had a big job in your future, the pressure often dulled the fun of childhood.

  “You do need to marry at some point if you want to pass down your tiara to a daughter,” Nemal said.

  “There is enough family. They’d find another seer if they had to. I’m not in a rush.” I enjoyed the undercurrent of jealousy of the conversation. Nemal didn’t like all these good-looking men hanging around in my private quarters.

  “You know, as Royal Seer, you could’ve appropriated one of the smaller reception rooms in the center of the castle for this sort of affair. It’d be much easier to find, and you’d have more space.” Nemal glanced around.

  I smiled. “I wanted this to be a private family meeting. Not public knowledge, so please keep it quiet.”

  “In a castle? You think you’ll be able to keep it quiet?” he asked.

  I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I’m trying to be discreet. Minnette might be embarrassed or angry. Have they found my father?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry. By now, he’s probably across the border.”

  My stomach fell. “I hate him. How could he do this?”

  “Some people become zealots. Their cause is more important than family or friends. Even children.” He touched my arm.

  The contact felt good, but he pulled away quickly. I felt all my male relatives staring territorially. As though a prince weren’t good enough.

  “They are well trained,” Nemal said.

  I nodded. “Their mothers are strong and smart. I didn’t choose any of the slackers or lazy offshoots in the family. Those men may never rule the family, but that doesn’t mean their roles are less important. Queen’s Guard, historian, farming expert, or simply standing up for what is right—I wouldn’t choose anyone less for Minnette.”

  “She’s lucky.”

  “She won’t like anyone I pick, anyway. It’s probably a waste of time,” I said.

  Nemal sipped his wine. “You never know. Remmy and Faldar being so blissful is irritating her.”

  I laughed. “She’s not that mean.”

  “No, she’s pleased her brother is happy, but she’s the oldest. She expected to find love and be celebrated and adored with much fanfare before Remmy. Everyone loves Faldar and is fussing over him since he’s basically cut off from his family.” Nemal’s face went from relaxed to serious.

  “What? It’s not forever. I mean, the Bachal king will want Faldar back, eventually. A sham engagement to LeFawn will only work for so long. Faldar will have to stand up for himself or go back.” I’d done the best I could to keep them together. LeFawn even put her reputation on the line. We couldn’t reverse time, but the queen was right. There was not likely a happy ending for them, not in the long-term. Unless Faldar stood up to his father. The king loved his son and was proud of him, but wasn’t a man to change his beliefs to please his children.

  “The Bachal king wants a trade,” Nemal said.

  “A what?”

  “There is a meeting in the morning of the Queen’s Counsel. It’ll be discussed there. But you and I are named as invited guests of the Bachal Nation.” Nemal looked about as thrilled as I felt.

  “Invited to what?”

  “Stay there for a time. Learn about their culture and ways. Why me?” he asked.

  “I have no idea. LeFawn is supposedly engaged, so not her. Minnette is the crowned princess, your mother would never allow it, fine. But you’d think he’d ask Remmy before you. And why me?” I resisted the urge to drink more wine.

  “Your powers are impressive. He probably wants to use them. Or put you in your place.”

  I shuddered. “Male dominated.”

  Nemal smiled. “Remmy is more of a scholar. The king probably thinks I’d enjoy it there. A soldier would fit in better.”

  “The soldier is more respected,” I said. “Doesn’t mean we’ll go. That’s up to your mother. Please let her say no.”

  “I have no idea what she’s thinking, either. She’s not happy, but how do you fix this?” he asked.

  “Fix another country’s prejudice and narrow-mindedness? You don’t. Live and let live. That policy has worked for us since the great war. We trade with other countries and keep strong borders. We all make our own laws. Our streets are safe. We can’t police theirs.” War was the last thing I wanted to think about. We’d come too close with the negotiations.

  “They won’t be content with the treaty. Not for very long. I dread the next negotiation.”

  “We have a year on the treaty. Try to force the Bachal to change? We can’t alter the patterns and habits of an entire culture. We have to take care of our own citizens first. Faldar needs to lead the charge for change in his country if he’s up to it. He’s their prince, and i
t’ll be his kingdom one day.”

  All the talk about castles and monarchies made me long for my childhood on my own estate. I’d lived outside the castle. I’d seen humans working alongside magical people in populated cities. My family owned a great deal of farming and mining land. Humans worked hard, and life wasn’t always easy. Bad seasons meant fewer crops. We didn’t have tons to spare to prop up another country. My grandmother had taken me to the housing units where individuals who lacked their own homes went to for various reasons. Teaching me about charity for those with less was as important to her as teaching me about the history of wars on our planet. Commoners suffered most in times of war.

  “Maybe you’re just the person to go? You look very serious,” Nemal said.

  “Just remembering my grandmother. She was obsessed with the world wars and the dark days after the bioweapons and nuclear fallout. We have it very good, but we’re not farming or mining for surpluses. That’s good for us, sparing the land and not spoiling food, but it’s a delicate balance. War…”

  “War could throw our lives into chaos. No one wants it. But if they start it…” Nemal shook his head.

  “So, we need to send a delegation to appease the Bachal. Keep the peace.” I understood. That didn’t mean I wanted to go.

  “Who is the guy flirting with LeFawn?” Nemal asked.

  I glanced over, rather surprised myself that she hadn’t joined our chat. “Murlon is a farmer. He’s nice.”

  “Well, don’t drink too much. You must be at the meeting early to represent the fifth family. It’s getting late,” he said.

  Zelan, no doubt having read Nemal’s mind, walked up to me and bowed. “I should be going. It is late, and you have important business. Thank you so much for inviting us.”

  “Thank you for coming. I’ll try to schedule something more formal for all of the fifth family members soon,” I said.