“Kitara?” he repeated in shock. “You mean they escaped the destruction?”
Rhys nodded. “They did,” he said. “I suppose it is perfectly logical that people from a country under siege escaped the carnage, but I’ve never heard of anyone else having come from Kitara, and especially not coming so far north into France.”
“Addax and Essien came all the way to England,” Christopher pointed out. “It is not entirely far-fetched, but the news is astonishing. What an incredible stroke of luck.”
Rhys nodded. “That’s what I was thinking,” he said. “But there’s more, Chris.”
“What more?”
Rhys scratched his head. “Now, I’ve not seen Essien or Addax since they were children,” he said. “I came here to tell you about the people from Kitara personally because when a country is invaded, you never know where their enemies might be. If Addax and Essien migrated all the way to England, it is very possible that their enemies have migrated, too. I did not want a missive from me, about the remaining royal princes of Kitara, to fall into the wrong hands.”
“Understood,” Christopher said. “That was smart. But why did you say there was more to it?”
Rhys sighed sharply, watching Addax take his position at the end of the repaired guide. “As I said, I’ve not seen Addax or Essien in years,” he said. “But this new wife of Lavaur, and herparents… I swear to you that they look like Addax and Essien. Mayhap everyone in the country has a similar look, or mayhap it is my imagination, but I swear that they all look similar.”
Christopher stared at him a moment, digesting what he was being told. “Do you think they are related?” he asked.
“It is possible.”
“Did you get their names?”
Rhys nodded. “I did,” he said. “I do not remember the names of Addax and Essien’s family. Do you?”
Christopher had an ominous feeling hovering over him like a cloud waiting to clap thunder. He couldn’t help it, but he did. Something was about to break open all around them.
He could feel it.
“Their sister’s name was Adanya,” he finally said, his voice hoarse.
Rhys’ eyes widened. “Christ,” he hissed. “That is the name of Lavaur’s bride. But it could be a common name, couldn’t it? Like John or Mary or Eleanor?”
“Aye, it could be,” David said, entering into the conversation because it was bordering on the fantastic. “It could be a wild coincidence. But what are her parents’ names?”
Rhys looked between the brothers, completely focused on the conversation even though the marshals were preparing to drop the flag and start the bout.
“The mother was referred to as Sitt Kiya,” he said. “They referred to the father as the Pasha, but beyond that, I do not know his name. From what Lavaur told me, his wife’s grandfather, the mother’s father, was a sultan in Egypt who was recently deposed, so the entire family fled to France when Adanya married. It was not safe for them to remain in Egypt.”
Christopher simply closed his eyes. Rhys and David were watching him closely until Rhys finally spoke.
“Chris?” he murmured. “What is it?”
Christopher took a long, deep breath and opened his eyes. “Addax told me that his mother’s name was Kiya,” he said. “God’s Bones, is it actually possible that Addax and Essien’s parents made it out of Kitara alive? And somehow made it to France?”
Rhys could only shrug. “That is why I had to come and tell you this,” he said. “I knew that Essien and Addax had come back to England because David told me, and if it is their mother and father and sister in France, then…”
He was suggesting that Addax and Essien should be told, but Christopher shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “Do not tell them anything. It is too fantastic, and you do not want to encourage their hope and then have it all dashed. Not after what they went through as children. That would be particularly cruel.”
Rhys understood, even if he didn’t really agree with him. “Then you do not wish for them to know?” he said. “At all?”
Christopher shook his head. “I simply do not think we should,” he said. “Rhys, can you send for them? Have them come to England, but we will not tell Addax or Essien. If they recognize them as their family, then the reunion will be joyful. But if they are not their family, then it will simply be a pleasant introduction between them and others who escaped Kitara.”
“You want to surprise them.”
“For lack of a better term, aye,” Christopher said. “I think that would be the safest thing to do.”
Rhys could see his point. “Very well,” he said. “I’ll send word to Lavaur and explain the situation. I’ll ask him to have them escorted to England, but not tell them why. He’ll have to think up an excuse.”
“Good,” Christopher said. “We’ll decide when, and how, the meeting shall take place.”
