The King's bastard

'I am ready,' Cobalt announced, stepping forwards. 'What would you have me do?'

Springdawn took a slight step backs indicating Autumnwind should speak.

'Normally one of us would lay our hands on a child's head and skim the surface of their mind,' the Affinity warder said. 'With children it is very simple, they have no defences.'

'And with adults?' King Rolen asked.

Springdawn leant closer to Autumnwind to whisper.

'Speak up. I would know everything,' King Rolen urged.

Springdawn bobbed her head in apology. 'I was suggesting my colleague is better suited to this task. Affinity affects men differently from women.'

Piro hadn't known that, though she supposed it made sense. She watched as Springdawn stepped back. Why did the nun look pleased?

'King Rolen, I am honour-bound to speak the truth,' Autumnwind warned.

'Of course, of course.' Her father waved him on. Piro realised if the Affinity warder had to condemn Cobalt, he would do it, even though it would not please the king. No wonder Springdawn looked satisfied.

'Proceed,' the king said.

'Very well. Will someone restrain the candidate?'

'You do not need to hold me.' Cobalt lifted his hands palm up. With his handsome features, he looked noble and wronged. 'I will not struggle.'

Autumnwind grimaced. 'You may collapse. It can be — '

'Then I'll sit.' Cobalt beckoned a servant who hurried over with a straight-backed chair.

After this was adjusted to Autumnwind's satisfaction Cobalt sat, hands resting on his thighs. 'I'm ready.'

Everyone else seemed more uncomfortable with the proceedings than he.

'Will it hurt?' Piro asked the question that seemed to be on everyone's mind.

'Only if he resists,' Autumnwind explained.

Cobalt blinked once and inhaled deeply, as though preparing for the worst. Despite herself, Piro felt a tug of admiration and sympathy.

She gave herself a mental shake. If this hurt Cobalt — and she was certain it would — it was his own fault for using Affinity to manipulate her family.

Springdawn stepped closer to Piro, hemming her in, so that the nun was on one side and the queen on the other.

'This natural shielding, Piro,' Springdawn's soft voice fell into the rhythm of lecture, 'you have it too.'

Piro went very still.

Unaware of her reaction, Springdawn raised her voice. 'I am here if you need support, warder.'

The monk sent her a sharp look that held an undercurrent of dislike.

Then Autumnwind, Halcyon Affinity warder, stepped around behind Cobalt, placed both hands on the larger man's temples and closed his eyes.

Piro desperately wanted to observe Autumnwind's technique. She longed to open her senses so that she could see with her Unseen sight but she didn't dare, not with the wardess at her side.

'Do not fear, Piro.' Springdawn took her hand and squeezed it. 'Affinity rarely turns nasty. Though I did read of one occasion when the warder died before they could disengage his senses from the candidate, who turned out to be a renegade Power-worker in disguise.'

Autumnwind's eyes flew open and the look he sent her this time was definitely unfriendly. Then he lowered his lids again and spoke the words to clear his mind and open his senses.

Piro looked away, controlling her instinct to observe. She felt Springdawn do the same thing, distancing herself from the procedure. Why would she do that? Was the Sylion nun leaving her colleague to sink or swim?

At least a dozen people were present, but no one fidgeted or spoke as the silence stretched. Piro heard servants going about their tasks. Voices echoed down the halls, distorted by distance, while, in the great hall, there was only the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth, which was big enough to burn a trunk as thick as a man was tall.

Despite her best intentions, Piro's gaze was drawn back to Autumnwind and Cobalt. The monk frowned and Cobalt grimaced, lips white as if in pain. Sweat beads collected on the monk's forehead. Cobalt groaned and ground his teeth.

Piro had to fight the instinct to reach for her Affinity. The effort made her sway.

Springdawn noticed. 'Are you unwell, Piro?'

'She's upset,' her mother said and gently led her away from the others over to the table where their wine sat forgotten. She pressed Piro into a chair and put her head forwards. The nun followed them.

'Breath deeply, Piro. It will pass,' her mother said.

'I know it is not a pretty sight, this Affinity seeking,' Springdawn said softly. 'The smell of blood affects me the same way.'

'I'm all right now,' Piro whispered. She lifted her head, feeling her cheeks grow warm as the colour returned. 'What… what happens if he can't get past Cobalt's natural shielding?'

'Then sorbt stones are the final proof. We strap a stone to the Candidate's naked skin and leave it there. At some point his concentration must falter, he has to let down his guard to sleep, you see. The moment his walls drop the stone will sense the Affinity and naturally try to absorb it. Any trained warder can detect if the stone is activated. The danger is, that once activated the stone can drain an untrained person to death within heartbeats. Sorbt stones are very powerful.'

Piro shuddered and glanced towards Cobalt and Byren. Despite her fear of detection she wanted to see what was happening. 'How long will this take?'

'As long as it needs to,' Springdawn said.

'Are you feeling better now, Piro?' her mother asked.

She nodded and stood up. They headed towards the others but had not even reached Garzik and Orrade, who were on the outer circle, when the smell hit Piro. Sweat and vomit.

'Ugh.' Her nose wrinkled then she froze, afraid that this smell was something only those with Affinity would be aware of.

'Yes.' Springdawn shuddered. 'It's a bad one. Trust Autumnwind to force his way through.'

'What is that smell?' Piro whispered.

'It's the smell of battle,' Orrade muttered. 'Only battle's worse.'

'How could it be worse?'

He just looked at her. She glimpsed a window to horror before he shielded his mind. And she thought she knew Orrade. He was a blade, sharp and merciless. She shuddered. Damn her Affinity. Had Springdawn noticed?

'Catch them!' King Rolen yelled.

The queen thrust through the others, with Piro on her heels. They were in time to see Cobalt sway and tumble forwards off the chair. Her father caught Cobalt's arm before he could hit the ground. Autumnwind struggled to a seat, visibly shaken. No one had actually thrown up, the smell came through their skin.

Piro had never come across anything like it. The smell hit her at a primal level. Fear, it said. Danger.

Instinct triggered her Affinity and her sight shifted to the Unseen. The monk pulsed, his outline hazy as if he was only partly there. She could tell he had exhausted himself.

'Wine!' The king's words reached her as if they came down a deep tunnel, reverberating oddly. He held out his hand and a goblet was refilled then placed in his grasp. He handed it to Cobalt, who drained it in one go, hands trembling.

He hardly registered on Piro's vision. No power radiated from him. But then no power radiated from her mother either as she poured Autumnwind a drink and gave it to him.

Springdawn shifted and Piro glanced to her, not surprised to see that she also pulsed like the monk, but much more strongly. The nun had not exhausted her store of Affinity.

Made aware that she was exposing herself needlessly, Piro tried to rein in her Affinity, backing up until she hit someone.

'Piro, you're trembling.' Garzik steadied her.