The Forsaken Throne (Kingfountain #6)(13)

The barb was not well buried, and Trynne felt it keenly. Reya gave her a sad smile from across the room.

“My lord king,” Gahalatine continued, “if we can agree that the Fault Staff should be destroyed, then let us do so here in Kingfountain with your council as witnesses. I promised Lady Tryneowy that she would not be forced to move to Chandigarl. We will, if we can, agree to a prescribed frequency for her visits.” His cheek quivered with suppressed emotion. “And then I will return to my people and continue to repair the damage done there. Even after six months, the city is horribly scarred. My Wizrs advised me not to even come here. But I hearkened to Sunilik.” He gazed at Trynne with a hint of longing. “Maybe we can, in time, build anew what was destroyed between us.”

Her throat was thick as she saw the war raging inside him. The Wizrs had attempted to turn his heart to ashes, but there remained

glints of heat, hissing cinders. A strong part of him that still cared for her.

“We are in agreement on the terms. You have my permission to leave,” Drew said. “Lord Amrein will escort you and your guard. You will see for yourself that we are still recovering from the devastation you wrought on us. But peace has always been our goal. We never provoked this confrontation, Gahalatine.”

“That is true enough,” Gahalatine said, then pressed his lips together in a firm line. Even though she had been hurt by him, even though it would take time to heal, she admired his strength, his determination to do what was right despite the wily counsel—and strange magic—of his advisors.

“I will see you in Ploemeur in three days’ time,” Gahalatine said.

He took her hand, and his touch made her feelings rouse like a shaken beehive. For a moment, he seemed on the verge of pressing her hand to his lips. His eyes seared into hers. “Why is it that I feel so differently when I am near you?” he whispered, pitching his voice so softly she barely heard it.

“It is the truth freeing itself,” she answered him. “I am not what you have been led to believe. Allow me to justify myself.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard the sweetest berries come from Brythonica. We cannot enjoy them in the Forbidden Court because the distance is too far and they perish before they can arrive, except the ones preserved in jellies. I know there is a beach made of broken glass from drowned Leoneyis. My ancestors once traded with that kingdom and learned much wisdom from it.” His thumb grazed her knuckle. “I will come in three days.” She saw the look of hurt in his eyes, the pain he was experiencing from being so near her.

Then he let go of her hand and turned to Lord Amrein. “Shall we not start at once, my lord? I have no urge to sleep.”

Genevieve and Trynne walked to the chapel fountain together after watching Gahalatine’s group ride off from the castle bailey. Though Reya was to join her at the chapel, Trynne had urged her not to hurry. She knew her friend wanted more time with her father, and Trynne herself wanted to speak with the queen alone.

“That did not go as I expected it would,” Trynne said, squeezing Genny tightly just beyond the doorway to the chapel.

“It went worse than I had feared,” the queen replied. She motioned for the knights guarding the chapel to leave and they promptly obeyed. “The coldness and anger of his greeting.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Trynne, but I grieve for you. I could not bear it if Drew looked at me like that. With such antipathy.”

Trynne nodded. “There is magic at work, Genny. That Wizr has something with him. Something he was wearing around his neck, a medallion perhaps. I sensed it before I even entered the room. He has been using it to control Gahalatine’s feelings, but it cannot work while I am with him. You don’t know how tempted I was to attack Albion then and there.”

Genny smiled. “I wouldn’t have blamed you. Well, perhaps you’ll have your chance. The Wizr is riding with Gahalatine for protection.

Sunilik will be our welcomed guest here at the palace while he awaits their return. He expressed his gratitude to me for sending you to the oasis to rescue Reya. Their reunion was touching.”

Trynne smiled. “I should have liked to see it. Well, I must go back to Ploemeur and prepare for my husband’s arrival. I suppose this is a little how Mother felt when she was waiting for Papa to come to Ploemeur for the first time. He was so rude to her.”

The queen smiled and rubbed her arm. “Well, hopefully his visit will help resolve the situation. There will be fewer people around to distract you. I wish the Wizr wasn’t with him, but I have to say I’m grateful he left. We all felt horrible until you arrived. There was so much tension in the air despite our efforts to be civil.”

Trynne nodded. “I’m glad I missed that part. It was good seeing you, Genny.” She pressed a kiss to the queen’s cheek.

“Trynne,” Genny said hesitantly. She glanced to make sure no one else was around. “I wanted you to know that I did speak to Fallon. About the clothes you found in Morwenna’s chest. Actually, I had someone go up there and look for them. His things were there, just as you said, and it gave me the pretext of asking him about it.”

Trynne’s stomach began to churn with worry, and a queer, bitter ache throbbed inside her. “And?” She could tell the news wasn’t good because of the subdued look on Genny’s face.

“Fallon was surprised by it, actually. He said he had never been to her tower before. It was a place she never brought anyone.”