Lady Tara stood. Her gaze darted to the door he'd entered through, then to a larger door to the right of the table. "Do you travel with your prince, Master Cham? We had not received word that His Highness was coming or, I assure you, we would have prepared for his arrival. I hope he will not be too put out."
She didn't know of Lord Nathak's deceit? How could he explain such a thing? "No, my lady. I'm afraid…it turned out that…well…" Achan swallowed. "Haven't you heard?"
She laughed softly. "Only that your tongue is somewhat knotted, good sir. How can I ease your mind?"
Before Achan could answer, the servant's door opened. Carmack and Sir Gavin entered.
Sir Gavin strode before the sofa and bowed. "My lady. Thank you for permitting us to enter. We're in your debt."
Lady Tara curtsied. "As if Meribah Corner would refuse the Crown Prince. Please, think nothing of it, Sir Gavin. Lord Gershom is not himself of late. I pray you forgive his orders. Had he understood who sought entry… Well, I am glad you were able to message Carmack." She gestured to the chair on her left. "Please, Sir Gavin, won't you sit? Master Demry, could you inform Ghee we will have our dinner in the great hall?"
Carmack bowed. "Of course, my lady." He exited through the large door. Before it closed, Achan could see a vast great hall beyond.
"Master Cham?"
Achan met Lady Tara's tired eyes. They did not sparkle as they had when he first met her. With slouched posture and pale skin, Darkness clearly did not agree with her. "I'm sorry? Did you say something, my lady?"
"Won't you sit as well?" She motioned to the chair across from Sir Gavin.
"Yes, of course." Achan claimed the chair. He set his hands on his lap, shifted them to his sides, then back to his lap. What was the proper thing to do with one's hands? They trembled slightly. He squeezed them into fists and jerked his head up at the sound of his name.
Lady Tara stared, forehead wrinkled. "Did you hear me, Master Cham?"
"I'm sorry, my lady." He forced a smile. "I'm afraid my mind is preoccupied."
Her sculpted eyebrows sank. "Of course, you are concerned for your prince. Forgive me. He is welcome to this room, but we have an elegant receiving room opposite the great hall he would likely prefer. My staff is preparing it as we speak. He could relax there until dinner is served."
Achan leaned forward and set his elbows on his knees. "My lady, Prince Gidon is not with us. He…"
Pig snout. How did one explain such a mess? His face flushed and he hoped she couldn't see his discomfort.
Sir Gavin raised an eyebrow at Achan. Allow me.
Thank you. Achan studied a knot on the floorboards between his boots. How might Lady Tara respond?
"Lord Nathak has deceived us all, my lady. Prince Gidon, as you knew him, is and always has been false. He's Lord Nathak's son. Shortly after King Axel and his queen were killed, Lord Nathak found the real Gidon Hadar. Before giving the prince to the Council, he switched the boy with his own."
Achan peeked up. Lady Tara brought her fingers to her gaping mouth.
"Aye, he hid the true Crown Prince all these years in the kitchens of Sitna Manor. Lost to all. But Arman exposed the treason. The man you see before you is the real Gidon Hadar, the rightful heir to the throne of Er'Rets."
Lady Tara's wide eyes brimmed with tears, then drooped, as did her hands. She gripped the edge of the sofa, slid off and onto her knees, head bowed.
Achan jumped up and grasped her elbow, pulling her back to her feet. "Please, my lady. Kneeling is not necessary. I've not yet been crowned. In fact, the Council voted Esek king, so until we challenge…" He helped Lady Tara sit on the sofa. The scent of jasmine flooded his senses. As he reclaimed his chair, his eyes darted to the candles he thought had held the scent.
Lady Tara's forehead wrinkled. "Who is Esek?"
"Nathak's son," Sir Gavin said. "The one we'd always thought was Gidon. The Council wasn't willing to give up control, you see. Since Esek has always been their puppet, they voted in his favor, four to three."
"So Master Cham is not king?"
"Not by the Council's ruling, no. But he's Arman's anointed despite what any man claims. Berland, Nesos, and Armonguard stand with us. We head for Tsaftown to gain your father's support, then on to Carmine to assemble an army."
"We are at war, then?"
"Aye, my lady, on the brink."
She turned to Achan, face pale. "Prince Oren supports you?"
Achan nodded and held up his hand bearing the signet ring.
"Do you have the kings' gift, then?"
Again Achan nodded. He sensed her overwhelming shock and reached out for her thoughts.
It is almost too much. That Gidon is false and this sweet creature… He's so young. Can he do what's necessary? To overthrow Darkness? If he has the king's gift… "Prince Gidon-I mean, Lord Nathak's son did not have the gift, you know. But my father said the prince had it as a…child." Lady Tara stared at Achan, sapphire eyes glazing. "What an answer to the prayers of your people, for we feared Arman had forsaken us with an evil king. I know you are a man worthy of such a calling."
Achan cast his gaze to the floor, overwhelmed by the pressure of such flattery. "You're too kind, my lady." But she'd thought him a sweet creature. That was a good sign, wasn't it?
"You will fight, then?"
"At some point we'll have to," Sir Gavin said. "We realize Lord Gershom may not want to take a political stand, but we'd like to ask for supplies to aid us on our journey to Tsaftown. And might we spend a night or two to rest? As of now, we have no way to compensate Lord Gershom's hospitality, but should Achan win the throne-"
"I beg of you, do not fret over compensation. You are welcome to stay here without recompense." She stood and smoothed out her skirt. "I will have our best rooms readied for you and your men. I-how many are in your party?"
Sir Gavin stood as well, so Achan did too. "Five, my lady," Sir Gavin said. "The others are settling the horses."
"I'll see that Ghee prepares a feast in your honor."
Sir Gavin bowed. "I thank you for your courtesy, my lady."
"As do I," Achan said.
Lady Tara's lips curled into a small smile. "Would you like a tour of the ground floor?"
She had asked the question of Achan. She now knew his rank was higher than Sir Gavin's and followed protocol by addressing him first. Achan needed to act his part if he hoped to impress her enough to want to marry him. The mere idea sent a wave of heat through his body.
"That would be nice, thank you." Achan offered his arm to his-he hoped-future bride.
Vrell stood inside the front doors to the diamond-shaped great hall with Sir Caleb and Inko. A wooden staircase wrapped around the right half of the room until it reached a door on the second level. The rough-hewn head table arched in a quarter circle from the wide corner of the room. Four long, wooden tables fanned out from it like sunbeams.
Servants trailed in and out, setting the tables. It appeared Lord Gershom would dine with them after all. She prayed he would let them stay a day or two. She longed to sleep in a real bed. Hopefully, one she would not have to share with Inko.
Achan and Sir Gavin had been gone a while. Where had Carmack taken them? Sir Caleb and Inko stood on the outside of the banister, whispering. Vrell did not care to eavesdrop. Those two argued over the pettiest concerns.
A woman's familiar giggle straightened Vrell's posture. Three figures entered the great hall through a door on the far wall. Sir Gavin, Achan, and Lady Tara Livna, who clung to Achan's arm like lint to wool.