The Ursuper

'I've always wanted to see a pica pair,' Piro said.

A tray of wine, bread, cheese and fruit sat on the desk. Fyn gestured to it. 'Help yourselves.'

Piro came over to pour wine and slice cheese. Her musical voice rose and fell as she relived their close escape. Isolt ate, saying nothing. They were opposites, Piro all light and laughter, Isolt dark and troubled. He wished he could banish Isolt's fear.

'A pair of pica birds?' Isolt asked. Her gaze slid to Fyn. 'So you serve the elector?'

'Mage Tsulamyth, as does Captain Nefysto,' Fyn answered. He was in the mage's debt and power, but to ensure Tsulamyth did not have the same power over Piro he would introduce her as Isolt's maid.

To think, he had been ready to renounce the world and live a monk's life. He looked up. 'We three must make our plans now, before the captain comes.'

Piro had been on her knees, slipping grapes through the bars of the foenix's cage. At his tone she turned with a questioning look, and Isolt put her wine goblet down.

Fyn decided to be frank. 'Piro and I are worth more dead than alive to our enemies, and I don't know who we can call friend.'

'The mage sent you to save Isolt. Surely he is our friend?' Piro asked.

Isolt made a rude noise. 'From what I've heard Mage Tsulamyth is his own best friend.'

Piro looked to Fyn.

'He is an Affinity renegade, Piro. The abbot would say we can't trust him at all. I haven't met him, only one of his agents, so I can't judge. The mage is the force behind the elector of Ostron Isle, in some ways more powerful than a king, and we are at his mercy. That is why we must make a pact.' He placed his hand palm-down on the table. 'I swear to protect both of you with my life, and to see that you are restored to your rightful places.'

Piro walked over to the desk, placing her hand on Fyn's. 'I swear to protect you two by whatever means I can.' She smiled. 'It's good to have you back, brother, but I fear just surviving may be hard enough without trying to win back Rolencia.'

Fyn smiled. 'Maybe not. We have a secret ally inside Rolenhold.'

Piro's eyes widened. 'Who? Tell me.'

'Cobalt. He's promised to help restore Byren…' Fyn broke off, seeing Piro's expression. 'What is it?'

She pulled back. 'You haven't told Cobalt where Byren is, have you?'

'Not yet. Piro, I know it appears that Cobalt is Merofynia's puppet king. But he told me to bring Byren to him, so — '

'So he could kill him!' Her pretty mouth twisted with grief and anger. 'You went back to the abbey after midwinter, Fyn. You didn't see what our cousin did. I watched it all unfold and there was nothing I could do. First Cobalt turned Lence against Byren, then he turned Father against Byren, claiming that Byren was Orrade's lover and the Servants of Palos meant to put him on the throne. Then he turned Father against Mother and broke her heart. And it was he who ordered the postern gate opened to let Palatyne in.' She raised tear filled eyes to Fyn. 'All the while, he smiled and made everyone love him. I swear he's the two-headed snake, not Palatyne.'

Fyn sat down abruptly.

'Fyn?' Piro leant closer. 'You didn't give Byren away to Cobalt did you?'

'No.' He repressed a shiver then lifted his head. 'No. I didn't have a chance. But I meant to… Cobalt was so convincing, Piro. I found him lying there in Rolenhold, Palatyne's captive. He was injured, bearing his pain with great fortitude.'

She nodded. 'That's why he's so dangerous. With Palatyne you know he's your enemy. With Cobalt, he'll smile as he slides the knife in.'

Fyn shook his head. 'I can't believe I nearly — '

She touched his hand. 'It's all right, Fyn. He had Mother fooled until just before the end. She tried to kill him with his own sword.'

Fyn couldn't imagine his elegant mother swinging a heavy sword. 'When the abbey fell, I tried to reach you. If only I'd been in time.'

'Don't blame yourself, Fyn.' Piro eyes searched his face. 'You couldn't have saved us. It was a two-pronged attack. Cobalt betrayed the stronghold, even while the abbey was under attack.'

Fyn felt a great weight lift from him. He hadn't failed his family. Tears stung his eyes and he lifted a hand to his face, trying to catch his breath. Piro squeezed his shoulder.

After a moment she turned to the kingsdaughter. 'Are you with us, Isolt?'

Isolt looked from Piro to Fyn. 'You want me to make a pact that will see my father dead? He might be a ruthless man, but he is still my father. I won't stand by while someone plots his death.'

'Palatyne plots his death,' Piro said. 'I heard him ask Lord Dunstany for a poison that mimicked natural death and Dunstany provided it — he had no choice. Palatyne would have ordered him killed if he hadn't.'

Isolt's eyes widened. 'Why didn't you tell me? I could have warned my father.'

'I tried to tell you,' Piro said. 'But you didn't believe me. And your father is safe until you marry Palatyne. He planned to kill the king after he had you safely wedded and bedded. And he wasn't too fussed about the order, if you remember.'

Isolt blanched.

The thought of Isolt in Palatyne's hands made Fyn's stomach revolt. He came to his feet. 'Your father has many enemies, Isolt.'

She stared across the desk at him, the lantern's glow pooling in her troubled eyes.

'I can promise that I will not kill King Merofyn.'

Isolt considered this. Then she leant across the desk, offering her hand. 'I cannot ask for more.'

Piro caught her hand and Fyn covered them both, then gave them a squeeze. They all took a step back.

'Now we must decide what to tell the mage,' Fyn said. 'You must pretend to be Isolt's maid, Piro. I don't want him realising he has two of King Rolen's heirs in his power. I'll leave you on Ostron Isle and return to find Byren. I intend to be with him when he wins back Rolencia.'

'I'm coming too,' Piro said.

Fyn shook his head. 'It is safer for you on Ostron Isle.'

'With someone you regard as an Affinity renegade?' Isolt countered.

Fyn smiled, acknowledging her point. She was clever as well as beautiful and he could tell she did not like him, though he did not know why. 'We don't have a lot of options. I need a strong ally to help win Byren his kingdom. That's where you come in, Isolt. The Merofynian ambassador said the words of betrothal on your behalf. Since Lence is dead, you are betrothed to Byren according to both Merofynian and Rolencian law.'

'I don't want to be betrothed to anyone. I'm not some king's trophy.'

'Well said.' Piro applauded. 'I never asked to be betrothed to Rejulas. Why should we kingsdaughters be married off as prizes?'

They both glared at Fyn, righteously indignant, itching for a fight.

'You're right,' he said, sitting down and popping a grape in his mouth, as though he didn't care how they responded. 'When we get to Ostron Isle, leave this ship and walk away. Earn your bread as maids in a bakery for all I care.' He paused to let this sink in, then leant forwards, his voice growing hard. 'But if anyone discovers who you are, you will be killed or transported back to Merofynia. You can't deny your standing and you both have a role to play in this game.'

'Curse the game of Kingdoms!' Isolt whispered.

'It's not so bad being a maid, when you've been a slave,' Piro said. 'At least I'd be free.'

Fyn had never thought she would take his suggestion seriously. He reached for her hand across the desk. 'Stay with me, Piro. I've lost you once already. I couldn't bear to lose you again.'

Piro smiled and came around to stand behind where he sat. She hugged his shoulders and kissed the top of his head, then laughed, rubbing his hair. 'I can't get used to seeing you with hair. You should be bald and tattooed!'

Fyn grinned self-consciously.

'You two are lucky,' Isolt whispered. 'You have each other. I have no one. Even my mother hated my father more than she loved me.'