“It is. I was on my way to town when a missive came from the ambassador to come to his room. I met the children in the corridor, along with Guard Tezen, and was informed they had been to the kitchen for treats, for the children were upset about their missing kitten. Then I went to Teryn’s…” Shit. “The ambassador’s suite.”
Aelir scrubbed at his face so hard it was a wonder he did not set his pale lashes aflame.
“And you remained in his room until the guards came to gather the mahouk?” Le’ral was not one to be thrown off easily. I nodded. “And neither of you left his quarters for several hours?”
“Correct, Grand Advisor, we were both in his room.” I kept my sight locked on a tapestry hanging on the far wall. It depicted a waifish lass being serenaded by a princely knight. “I would rather not delve deeper into what transpired as it is personal.”
“I think we need not dig into what you two were doing in his suite. Your testimony as to his whereabouts is strong and matches what the ambassador has entered into our inquiry. Your word is well respected, Captain.” Le’ral said no more. I bobbed my head and went to stand with my cousin. Rolim gave me an unsettling look that I raised a brow at but did not comment on.
Aelir, exhausted and paler than usual, pushed some hair behind an elegant, pointed ear as he watched me for a long moment before turning to the situation.
“Ravens have been sent out to the queen and my consorts in Knight’s Way,” Aelir informed us. “I suspect the reply will be quick, and my family will return to Celear with haste. My grandfather is resting in his chambers. His mental state has slipped again after I passed along the discovery of the sea caveunder the castle.” Aelir looked to Fylson and then to Teryn. “Umeris seems to be the only one in this damn castle who had previous knowledge of the secret escape in the nursery. Why this was never mentioned to me, I do not know. When it was brought up, he became quite agitated, bellowing about how he had done what needed to be done no matter what she claimed.”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty,” Teryn whispered. “I know there is little to be done for an elderly elf who is suffering the mental deterioration of the aged, but perhaps my son—”
“Your offer is kind but seeing a dark-skinned elf would only agitate him until he returns from whatever past he seems to be visiting this day. Perhaps it is for the best. His venom for those who are not mainland-born would only add fuel to a fire that is a spark away from engulfing us all.” Aelir allowed Fylson to fill his glass with some bright pink citrus juice, a sour drink that I personally could not abide. “Teryn, your people are in their chambers. There they shall have to stay, aside from your son, who is in the Hall of the Sanguine tending to Vilde and Tezen.” Teryn nodded silently. “I will send Le’ral to speak to each of them in turn. We will need to verify their whereabouts last night. I am sorry for the improper handling of such distinguished guests. If it helps, everyone in the castle is being questioned, from our guard captain to the ash maids who clean the chamber pots.”
“Your Majesty, your kindness and wish to keep the lines of diplomacy open are to be commended. I, too, would question all in my keep if such a horrendous occurrence had taken place,” Teryn said, his gaze drifting to me then back to the king. “I shall send word to each member of my entourage to cooperate fully with your advisor when he visits them. May I speak frankly about something that I discovered while in fox form?”
“Yes, please, if you think it will help.” Aelir sipped from his cup, frowned at the bite, but did not push the tart juice away.
“There were many scents in the nursery,” Teryn began, his composure to be admired given the precarious state he and his people were in. “The nanny, the pixie, and the children were the strongest, but there were also the aromas of the people who committed this heinous crime, and those are what I wish to pass along. None were my people, but one was familiar.” We all waited as he glanced from me to my cousin to Le’ral and then, his brow furrowed, to the king. “Your grandfather’s caregiver, Jaska, was quite strong.”
“That is to be expected. My grandfather visits them when he is able. He loves them beyond measure.” The king seemed unhappy with the accusation about to be cast.
“Yes, of course, but his scent was on the stairwell leading down into the sea cave. On the docks as well.” Sad amber eyes locked onto the king. “I am sorry to relay that to you, my friend, but I do not see why his smell would be there if—”
Aelir went to his feet like a shot from a crossbow. “Guard!” the king roared. The two at the door rushed in, hands on their sword hilts, eyes round. “Find Jaska Ashwish. I want him found and confined to his chamber until Le’ral can speak with him.” They threw a look my way. I inclined my head slightly, not that a direct order from the king needed to be approved by me. They exited at speed, closing the door behind them. “I hope you are mistaken, Ambassador.”
“I am not,” Teryn sadly whispered. “There were four unfamiliar people in that room, three I did not know, but the smell of Jaska was strong. He carries the scent of the cobalt liniment that the healers rub into the feet of Grand Advisor Stillcloud. The smell of the blue squash leaves is strong and unmistakable. I am sorry, but he was in the nursery and traveled down the stairs within the past two suns. The trail was rich and new.” We all chewed on that vile news. I’d not known Teryn long, but in the short time I had known him, he seemed a manof honor and honesty, even if he was a terrible rogue at times. “Again, my apologies for the upsetting news. Treachery is always in the shadows in the halls of a ruler’s home, it seems. We have had our share on the Black Sands, to be sure. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to—”
The rapping on the solar door startled us all. “Come!” Fylson shouted. The two guards who had been posted outside the solar hurried in, eyes round as the platters of untouched food.
“Your Majesty, Jaska Ashwish is not in his chamber nor with the grand advisor. His effects are gone, but this was found pinned to his pillow with an eating dagger coated in ichor.”
The dagger, a small pewter thing that I myself had seen Jaska use to cut up his meat as well as Umeris’s, rested in one of the guard’s hands, while the other clutched a scroll.
“My grandfather?” Aelir asked, the horror on his face clear, as Le’ral stood to fetch the scroll and dagger from the guards. Fylson, not a fool by any means, wrapped his hand in a cloth napkin before lifting the dagger from a gauntleted hand. He sniffed it, made a face, and then passed the dagger to Teryn.
“In case it is a smell from your lands,” Fylson stated as the guards assured the king that his grandsire was slumbering peacefully in his bed. Teryn took a sniff, wrinkled his nose, and sighed as if the weight of the Witherhorns had settled on his shoulders.
“I recognize the aroma. It’s congealed woe bane. A toxin boiled down into a tar-like substance that farmers use on rats that infest their grain stores.” He cleared his throat. “Woe bane is only found growing at the base of the Rajaz Mountains. It is not easily obtained outside of the Black Sands, as our priests use it in a religious ceremony as well.” We all stared at Teryn openly. “The ritual uses a tincture of woe bane, greatly distilled, but still powerful enough to open the mind of the proselyte to allowthem to commune with Shamsira.” He looked uncomfortable. “Itisan ancient ritual.”
The king said nothing. Wisely, to be sure. Our own church was not above reproach. We worshipped a god of higher intellect, yet our clerics still caned those under them for infractions. Rarely, yes, but the practice was still allowed.
His clarification did little to ease our concerns about the fact that the priests of the Black Sands gave their neophytes toxins to open their minds, but none of us had room to criticize. The wood elves chewed a certain type of bark that gave them hallucinations for holy communion with Danubia, where our priests fasted for days until Ihdos blessed them with insight into his wisdom.
Aelir, during this religious discussion, had unrolled the scroll and was reading it. His face, usually handsome and placid, was now rigid with growing anger and hurt. He lifted light blue eyes from the scroll to look up at the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. The sun shone in on his face, highlighting the dark circles that worry and exhaustion were creating.
“Your Majesty?” Le’ral softly asked. Aelir tossed the scroll onto the table and rose to pace the room, his sight locked on something only he could see.
Fylson opened the scroll delicately before reading the words inked upon the vellum out loud. Aelir went to stand at the balcony, his attention seemingly on the passing clouds, the hearty sea wind blowing his long hair back from his face.
To House Stillcloud False Rulers of Melowynn,
We hold Prince Al’fur and Princess Alfina. No parleys. No bells. No horns. We, the members of the Court of Gray Ice, have seen our lands being divvied up by those who bear no resemblance to us. These negotiations are another means of whittling away our means of livelihood while pushingthe common man and sailor into starvation. Taxation and overlords, kings and advisors, the noble elves all have lost sight of those who work the lands and sail the seas. No more. We demand the return of the silver heirloom crown and the scepter of Ihdos to the people. You have until the next alignment of the moons to deliver those items to us at the Blood Fen basalt pillar. Bring no army, speak of this to no one. Any pursuit and one child shall fall from our custody and the other will be set out into the deserts of the Black Sands to wander, bound by sorrow, until the jackals feast on their tender flesh. We do not bargain twice.
~The Court of Gray Ice
