The King's bastard

Now she could hear their voices quite clearly. She met Fyn's eyes, delighted.

'Enough of that,' her mother said. 'We must concentrate on mending this breach. We'll send someone after Rejulas to apologise and invite him to the spring cusp celebrations. Piro's been wild in the past but this is the last straw. It's time she grew up. She — '

'She spat out the food he gave her, acted like it was spoiled!' King Rolen said.

'Perhaps it was,' Byren suggested.

'It was not. I tasted it.' King Rolen roared. 'Then, when I asked her to pick up the Kingdoms pieces, she fled like an ulfr pack was after her. I sent Rejulas to bring her back, thinking he'd win her over, but she said something to him that made him march off.'

'It doesn't matter what little Piro said or did, Myrella's right,' Captain Temor said. 'One of the warlords sent hired killers after the kingsheir today. We can't hold the Jubilee celebrations without Unistag Spar renewing their loyalty, their absence would make Rolencia look weak. And we can't afford to lose Rejulas's support.'

A chair scraped on the boards as someone stood up. 'I'll go after him.' It was Lence.

Silence stretched and Piro could imagine them all exchanging glances.

'That could just work,' the queen said softly. 'Any warlord would be flattered to have the kingsheir apologise in person.'

'Take some of your father's honour guard,' Captain Temor said.

'No. I'll take my own,' Lence replied.

'You have them sworn already?' King Rolen asked stiffly.

'Seven, with more wanting to join. How many do you have, brother?'

'Not sure,' Byren muttered. 'But it's a good idea to invite Rejulas back for the Jubilee celebrations. He can spend some time with Piro. Let him be the one to break the betrothal when he discovers what a bad-tempered little wyvern she is!'

Piro could hear the smile in his voice.

'She bared her teeth at him already today,' King Rolen complained. 'I don't know what possessed the girl!'

'Don't be too hard on her, father,' Byren said. 'If she understood how serious things are, she wouldn't have offended Rejulas. Once Rolencia's warlords hear how Palatyne united all the Merofynian spars under him, they'll be dreaming of doing the same. I think it is time she and Fyn took their seats at the war table.'

At last! Piro held her breath.

Her mother sighed. 'Piro's too wilful. She never thinks before she acts. Maybe in a few years.'

'If I'm old enough to be betrothed,' Piro muttered under her breath, 'I'm old enough — '

'Hush,' Fyn hissed. 'Father's speaking.'

'…trust Fyn, but only so far. He's been at the abbey since he was six. His loyalty is divided.'

'I trust Fyn,' Queen Myrella protested. 'He's loyal to us.'

'Give me one good reason why I should trust him,' Lence snapped.

There was a strained silence. Piro closed her eyes, knowing how her mother must be torn, unable to reveal the Affinity which enabled her to glimpse into some people's hearts.

'Very well.' King Rolen sounded tired. 'If he can't be trusted, he can't have a seat at the war table.'

Fyn slipped out of the cupboard, his face ashen. Torn between hearing more and consoling him, Piro followed.

Fyn came to a stop on the far side of the room in the window embrasure. Frost rimmed each diamond pane of glass. He looked sick.

'Father and Lence didn't mean it, Fyn,' she whispered, her breath misting in the chilly air.

'Of course they did.' His voice shook with anger. 'Father was the one who gifted me to the abbey. What did he expect? At least they'll let you take your seat in a few years.'

'Not if I tell them about my Affinity.' Tears stung her eyes. 'Oh, Fyn. I looked into the Mirror of Insight and I saw the wyvern about to tear father's head off. I came to warn him about Rejulas.'

'Forget Rejulas. He's a just an upstart warlord, greedy for power. Merofynia is the real threat. I'm no mystic, Piro, but even I can interpret what you saw. The wyvern is the symbol of Merofynia. King Merofyn threatens Rolencia.'

'But Lence is betrothed to his daughter. Is King Merofyn so treacherous that he would betrothe his daughter, while preparing for war?' Piro whispered. 'Besides, who would want war, when we could have peace?'

'Oh, Piro.' Fyn shook his head. 'You are such an innocent.'

'I am not. Even I know that war brings death!'

'War brings wealth and power for the victor.'

'If you love war, why don't you serve the weapons master?' she snapped.

Fyn sank into the window seat and turned his face away from her.

'I'm sorry, Fyn,' she whispered. 'And I'm sorry about today and the Fate.'

'It was brave of you, Piro.' He gave her an odd look. 'Or didn't you stop to think about the risks?'

'I did. But I didn't intend to be caught.'

He shook his head ruefully. 'Feldspar deserved to find the Fate. His Affinity is stronger than mine. Even your Affinity is stronger than mine.'

Piro winced. She sat in the other half of the window seat and hugged her knees, wishing she could cheer him up.

'Maybe I should go to the abbess of Sylion, tell her I have Affinity and renounce the world,' she said, without conviction. 'At least I'd escape this plotting.'

Fyn snorted. 'You are an innocent. You can't escape plotting in an abbey. Being King Rolen's kin would make you a target in the mistresses' power plays. Besides, our parents won't want to let you go. You're too valuable a Kingdoms' piece. No, Piro. You were right and I was wrong. Tell no one for now.' He reached out and squeezed her hand. 'Will you promise me that?'

She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. 'Seela knows.'

He rolled his eyes. 'Why did you — '

'I wanted to warn Father. She stopped me. Don't worry, she won't tell.'

'Why not?' Fyn countered. 'She and Mother are thick as thieves.'

Piro debated with herself for a moment, then spoke. 'Have you ever wondered why you and I have it?'

'Affinity? Just bad luck — '

'No. We inherited it from Mother.'

He stared at her.

Piro nodded, almost laughing at his stunned expression. 'She's been hiding it all these years. Seela told me. Mother's Affinity came on her when she became a woman, like me. She didn't tell anyone because she had to marry Father to keep the peace.'

'Who would have thought?' Fyn shook his head slowly. 'Well, if she can hide it, then so can you.' He stood up. 'Pay attention and I'll teach you how to block out dangerous Affinity.'

She stood opposite him and mimicked his actions as he tapped his closed eyes, then his ears, then his mouth, then his heart, whispering all the time in a sing-song way.

'What're you saying?'

'Calling on Halcyon to protect me. I suppose the nuns call on Sylion but I don't think it matters what you say. The words and actions are just to help focus the will. Have you seen enough?'

She nodded.

'Then show me.'

She repeated the actions, humming in time to the tapping under her breath.

'Right. When you get really good at it you only have to think about it to set up the protective wards. And on no account let a renegade Power-worker touch your bare skin. It gives them access to — '

'As if I would!'

He grinned. 'Promise me you'll practise the wards every day.'

'I will, but Fyn, I won't see you again until spring cusp.'

He caught her hands in his. 'Don't worry. If there's any trouble Mother will help hide your Affinity.'

'She hates me!'

'Nonsense, Piro.'

'She does. I'm always doing the wrong thing. I'm a disappointment to her.' The immensity of it made Piro's eyes sting and she gulped back a sob. 'I've insulted Rejulas so the other warlords will defy father and — '

'Enough.' Fyn released her hands and clasped her shoulders, giving her a little shake. 'Everything's going to be all right. Lence will sweet-talk Rejulas and Byren will keep the warlords under control. Lence is betrothed to the Merofynian kingsdaughter which means we can look forward to another thirty years' peace. So your vision was wrong.'