The Hollow Crown (Kingfountain #4)(72)

“Shouldn’t you leave it here before you go?” Kevan said worriedly.

Owen shook his head. “I cannot. It is my responsibility until I die. I cannot just give it to someone else. Roux gave it to me only as he was spitting up blood. I don’t think I could even take it off unless I was passing the responsibility on to someone else. Dragan is still after this ring, Trynne. He hasn’t forgotten nor forgiven. I wanted both of you to know that.” He paused. “I think one of the reasons we can’t find Dragan is because he’s hiding out in Glosstyr. He’ll probably be disguised as one of the soldiers who comes with us. I plan to set a trap for him. That is one worry I’d like taken care of permanently. I owe Etayne that much,” he added, a hint of grief lingering in his voice.



The rush of magic rippled through Trynne’s body. When the mist faded, she and Captain Staeli were standing in the shallow pool of a dormant fountain. Moonlight streamed in from the high arched windows of the sanctuary. The room was empty and still, except for the tiny sounds of lapping water. Trynne listened for noises. Down one of the corridors, she saw the glow of a lantern as someone, probably the sexton, patrolled the grounds.

“And where are we now?” Staeli asked gruffly, screwing up his nose and glancing around. “Occitania?”

“Pree, the sanctuary of St. Denys,” Trynne whispered, releasing his hand. “This is where the Maid left her armor.”

“We’re here to find armor?” he asked in confusion, looking around at the empty room. The wall sconces had extinguished torches. Staeli was still rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“Yes, the Maid left it here for me. I need you to help me carry it and teach me how to put it on. You’re leaving at first light for Tatton Hall. I’ll be joining the army along the way. Have a tent ready for me, but it needs to be apart from the rest.”

“If you say so,” Staeli said with a yawn. “Where is this armor? I don’t see any.”

Trynne heard the sound of approaching footsteps and saw the bob of the lantern light on the wall moving toward them.

“It’s here in the water with us,” she said. “Quiet, they’ll hear!”

She reached out and summoned the armor with her magic. As with all treasures hidden in the Deep Fathoms, only a Fountain-blessed could draw it out. The armor materialized once again within the ripples, and Trynne reached into the water and hefted the breastplate. As she drew it from the water, the weight of it surprised her, and she nearly stumbled forward. Captain Staeli caught her and then grabbed the top of it with his hand and hoisted it over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

“Is someone there? Who is there?” called a voice in Occitanian. The light from the lantern was going to reach them in moments.

Trynne quickly assembled the other pieces, handing some to the captain and gathering others to herself. The sounds of the footsteps were nearly upon them when she grabbed Staeli’s hand again and summoned the Fountain magic to conceal them and whisk them back to Averanche.



Back inside her private chamber, racing to beat the brightening sky, Tryneowy Kiskaddon stood before a tall mirror, adjusting the arm bracer and flexing at her elbow. The armor was sturdy, but it was surprisingly light once she had it on, and it fit her perfectly. Was it a coincidence that the Maid of Donremy was her own height and build?

The armor was dented and scuffed, even though it was polished. It had seen battles.

“Now for the breastplate,” Staeli said, standing behind her. “The rivets tighten here and here. You won’t be able to arm yourself in this, you realize? It takes two to put on a full suit.”

“I’ll find a way,” Trynne said, unconcerned. She was usually loath to look at herself in the mirror, but seeing herself in a suit of armor made her feel giddy with excitement. Two overlapping pieces of metal met at the apex of the breastplate and were sculpted and shaped into a decorative design.

She twisted her torso as Staeli encased her in the breastplate like a crab shell.

“I don’t like this part,” he said, pointing to the small gap between the breastplate and the shoulder guard. “A broadhead arrow could pierce right here.” He clucked his tongue and shook his head in wonderment.

At his words, Trynne felt a momentary dizziness as the wellspring surged up inside her, filling her with the screams and groans of a long-ago battle. For a moment, she was the Maid of Donremy, feeling the pain of the arrow piercing her as she was carried off the field. The smell of blood overwhelmed her, as did the noise and confusion. The terror of the field was real.

She snapped back to her own time, her body starting to tremble with the emotions the vision had released. Trynne would soon be going to a battlefield of her own.

“And now for the sword belt,” Staeli said, wrapping the leather belt around her waist. There was a ring in the back and two rings on the front, which held scabbard straps. In lieu of a shield, Trynne would use two swords at once as she had trained to do.

She saw Staeli in the mirror over her shoulder, appraising the armor. He frowned and tightened some of the straps.

“How does it feel in the shoulders?” he asked her, looking at the reflection.

“Well enough,” she answered, bringing her elbows and arms together. The pieces of metal slid with her motion, providing for movement. The hilts of the twin swords protruded from her hips. She stared at herself again.