From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [29]
Fiery pain gripped her skull. She grasped the edge of Mother’s desk to keep her balance.
Your Highness? Sir Caleb said. He was one of the knights who advised Achan. Are you injured?
Achan’s mellow voice answered. Sorry, Sir Caleb. Just a little experiment.
And the pain subsided.
Vrell released the desk, her breath shaky. An experiment? Merciful heart! Did he have to experiment in such a way that brought all bloodvoicers to their knees?
She rested her head on Mother’s desk and dozed off, until a knock sounded on the door. She sat up. “Yes?”
The door cracked open, and Anillo slipped inside. “Master Rennan has arrived, my lady.”
Vrell stood. “Thank you, Anillo. Please, show him in.”
Anillo bowed and pulled the door open. “Master Bran Rennan, my lady.”
Bran swept into the study, black boots clomping on the redwood floor. He looked a fright, face flushed and sweaty, hair matted to his forehead and cheeks. His Old Kingsguard uniform was wrinkled and dirty.
“Are you well, Master Rennan?”
“Yes, my lady. I’ve come directly from the practice fields. I was told it was an emergency.” His deep brown eyes regarded her, filled with concern that quickly led to impatience. “What, Averella? What is so urgent?”
She hesitated at his tone. If he was already angry, how would she obtain his help? She held her chin high, employing every ounce of her training as a future duchess, and gritted her teeth at her aching side. “I require your assistance, Master Rennan. I wish to journey south to Armonguard and would like to—”
“This is your emergency?”
“I require an escort.”
His mouth fell open. “I will not be your escort.”
She wilted. “I only wish to ride along. No pomp or protocol. No one need know. I will even dress as a boy to—”
“No,” Bran said. “You ask me to lie to Sir Rigil? To Jax? To Prince Oren? I beg you, stop this ridiculous plotting and go talk to the prince.”
She stifled a whimper. Was everyone against her? “I most certainly will not.”
Bran tipped his head back. “But why, my lady? He will be thrilled to discover that you are you.”
Would he? Vrell was not so certain. “I will not marry him.”
“Why ever not?”
“He does not follow Arman.”
“But he is Arman’s chosen—”
“Not good enough. Many a king has been Arman’s chosen. I recall not one truly righteous man among them.”
“You did not know the kings of old. Do not judge based on rumors of history.”
“My fath— Duke Amal knew King Axel. I heard much from him about the former king’s philandering ways. And what is that saying? ‘For where the father stumbles, the son falls?’ I have seen Achan tempted, heard his thoughts on the subject. It is only a matter of time.”
“Averella.” Bran propped his hand on his hip. “That is hardly fair.”
“I do not trust Achan with my heart.”
Bran all but snorted. “He already has your heart. You love him.”
“Do not say that! It is not true.”
“You are a poor liar, my lady.”
“Am I? I went almost a year as a man without anyone suspecting I was not.”
“The prince discovered it.”
“Only when he looked into my mind, where he had no right to be, and saw things he should not have. His mischief with bloodvoicing is another reason I do not trust him.”
“Well, I trust him.”
“Good for you, Master Rennan. You marry him.”
Bran rolled his eyes.
How could she make him understand? “Achan is my friend, Bran, but that is not enough to pledge him my life.”
“My lady, you are too hard on our future king. He did not have your sheltered childhood. And he has turned out remarkably well, considering. He is fair and kind.”
“But he is unscrupulous with his gift. He uses his power for his own devices. He had no right to look into my mind.”
“Though doing so saved you from a terrible fate.”
True. Polk would have succeeded in his attack if Achan had not been watching. She shook the thought away. “I do not wish to speak of him again. Stop bringing it up!”
“But you are engaged to marry him.”
“I am not.