From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [75]
Averella gasped, hands trembling.
“Really,” Lady Fallina said. “Just because she would not marry you, Lord Nathak, or your depraved son?”
“Fallina!” Lord Levy snapped. “You will respect Lord Nathak in his own house.”
“Sitna Manor is your house now, my lord husband. You should remind Lord Nathak to respect you.” She shot a haughty glare at Lord Nathak. “And your wife.”
Lord Levy sighed. “Lord Nathak, would you allow my wife to sit with Lady Averella until you are ready to transport her?”
“I care not what your wife does. But Lady Averella will be taken to Mahanaim at first light tomorrow.”
Lord Nathak left the room.
Lady Fallina stood and smoothed out her skirt. “He intends to send an ill noblewoman to Mahanaim with a bunch of soldiers? And no escort? Can nothing be done?”
“What does an unconscious woman need with an escort?” Reggio asked.
“Lord Nathak will make certain nothing vile happens to her, my dear, I assure you,” Lord Levy said.
“You vouch for Lord Nathak’s character, Abidan? Since when have you trusted him?”
“Mother, Lord Nathak is loyal to our cause. It’s Lady Averella’s character that’s the issue here,” Reggio said.
How Averella wished she could speak aloud and give Reggio Levy the scolding of his life.
“Reggio, please!” Lord Levy turned back to his wife. “Lord Nathak said his interest in the girl is strictly political. She’s to marry his son.”
Lady Fallina scoffed. “To think all this began because her mother is the Duchess of Carm.”
“She is only Lady Nitsa now, for I am Duke of Carm. And Lady Nitsa could have avoided all this trouble by making the betrothal herself. Her stubborn ways have done her and her daughter no favors. Both women have brought their fortunes upon themselves. Dâthos has weighed their behavior of the scales of justice and made his judgment.”
Lady Fallina peered at her husband. “I find it odd that Dâthos always agrees with your judgment, my lord.”
“Because I know my god well.”
His wife huffed. “So you agree with Dâthos’s decision to send us to Sitna? That the Levy rule of Mahanaim is to end with you? I would think that Dâthos would condemn Lord Nathak for all his years of deceit. You did, at first.”
Lord Levy’s eyes smoldered. “I cannot see Dâthos’s full plan, but I assure you my years of loyalty will not be overlooked. Would you have me rebel, as Lady Nitsa has? Would you have our daughters used against us as pawns?”
Lady Fallina whispered, “Of course not.”
“Then do not question my judgment. I am loyal to Dâthos, as is the Hadad. I support his takeover, as should you.”
Lady Fallina looked back to Averella’s body.
“I would hate to think my own mother a traitor.” Reggio stood by the door with his arms crossed, glaring at his mother as if she were a vandal.
“That will be enough from you, my boy.” Lord Levy shooed Reggio out the door and pointed his pipe at Lady Fallina. “We shall see you at dinner, I hope?”
“As long as two women sit with Lady Averella in my place. Send me Tylia now, please.”
“As you wish, my dear.”
The door clumped shut behind Lord Levy and Reggio. Lady Fallina stepped back to the bed and sat down. She ran the back of her hand along Averella’s cheek. “I am sorry, child. I can only keep you safe under my roof. Once you leave… May Dâthos find more good in you than evil.”
• • •
Averella stayed with her body all afternoon, flitting about the room like a ghost. Two maids came when Lady Fallina went to dinner. Lady Fallina returned shortly and sat in a chair beside the bed, dozing restlessly into the night.
Averella drifted about the room and went out onto the balcony to look at the moon, high over the glassy sea.
Sparrow? The stray man’s voice boomed in her head again. You’ve closed your mind. Are you back in your body?
Averella paused, intrigued by his words. How do you know I am out of my body? And why call me Sparrow?
Sparrow, please. You have to lower your shields to talk to me. At least say something so I know you are well. I promise to leave you be after that, but I must know that you’re not hurt.