The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)(51)

How could they hope to defeat him?

Morwenna crossed to the other end of the seating area, hands clasped behind her back, staring at the magnificent city. A woman bowed her head respectfully to Morwenna, as if she were a great dignitary. What was Morwenna thinking about as she gazed on the court?

Gahalatine was in search of a Fountain-blessed wife.

Wasn’t that what Reya and Rucrius had said? Perhaps that was the only motive Morwenna needed. Trynne could not imagine being the lady of such a vast empire. Averanche was more than satisfactory to her. But perhaps Morwenna craved what she did not.

It was while she was staring at the poisoner that they passed a barrier of some kind. It was invisible, but Trynne felt it rush past her. It was insubstantial, like smoke, but Trynne recognized it as magic. There were other protections surrounding the island and the lake, and they had crossed them.

Trynne blinked, seeing Morwenna’s disguise had been stripped away. She stood as her true self, hands behind her back, her hair falling down around her shoulders.

“Mofa!” someone shouted in warning, pointing at Morwenna.

Two of the warrior maidens were already on the upper deck on patrol and both whirled around. They drew weapons and rushed the poisoner.





I’ve discovered my prison was on an island. After I overpowered the man sent to question me, I stripped away his silver mask and cloak. His face was painted over, and the sight of it nagged at my memory. I’ve known people who could disguise themselves, but I cannot recall what or who they are. The man is dangerous—I could sense that just from staring at him. So I switched clothes with him, locked him in my irons, and put my mask on his painted face. I left the dungeon without being stopped and now find myself in a palace of some kind. It is very opulent, and everyone’s clothes are rich and decadent.

There are many women here, but I do not feel safe. I feel at any moment I will be discovered and killed. I need to get off this island before they discover I’ve escaped. I cannot trust anyone. This place feels wrong.

I look at my face in a mirror. I don’t know myself. Why do I have a patch of white in my hair?





CHAPTER TWENTY


Zenana




The two guardswomen rushed Morwenna, and before Trynne could react, the poisoner struck the first in the throat with the edge of her hand. The second leaped at Morwenna with a flying kick, but the poisoner ducked the blow. The two became embroiled in a battle of punches and kicks that lasted only a few moments before the second guard collapsed, dazed from a blow to her stomach.

The sound of another guard vaulting up the steps filled Trynne with a feeling of panic. Morwenna vaulted off the railing, catching hold of the pillar that held up the roof overhead, and twirled down as she descended to the lower level. Several passengers rushed to the railing, shocked by the poisoner’s sudden flight, and Trynne wondered what she was supposed to do. Should she flee as well?

Had Morwenna known that her disguise would be dispelled crossing the lake? Surely she should have after her many visits to the Forbidden Court. Trynne felt more confused than ever by the poisoner’s motivations.

The two fallen guardswomen struggled back to their feet, their expressions full of pain and anger. A third reached the top of the steps, and one of the passengers spoke to her in a foreign tongue, gesturing down the ramp.

Trynne heard a commotion down on the lower deck, followed immediately by the splashing of water. Rushing to the nearest railing, she looked overboard and saw Morwenna’s dark hair against the green water, sinking lower and lower as she swam. Another guardswoman jumped in the water after her. It was obvious that they were not going to let Morwenna escape so easily. Trynne’s heart beat wildly. She had the Tay al-Ard, so she would hopefully be able to escape. Had Morwenna abandoned her, knowing she’d be captured? Or was she trying to save her own skin and allow Trynne to continue with their mission to save Lady Evie?

Most of the girls who were sharing the deck with her were shaking with worry—some talking amongst themselves, others isolated and fearful. Trynne did not have to try very hard to look agitated. She continued to watch from the railing, trying to see what would happen to Morwenna and if she’d be caught. The stone barge did not halt or change direction, even though one of the guardswomen was overboard.

Surprisingly, no one had accused Trynne of being in league with the girl who had jumped off the barge. No one had tried to speak to her. After several more moments, Trynne began to calm down. She was grateful she’d relied on Rani Reya’s clothes to disguise her. If she’d used the ring, she too would have been discovered.

As the barge approached the island, Trynne observed how the guardswomen gathered together near the lead end of the craft. They were talking furtively amongst themselves. The woman who had jumped overboard was still missing, and their voices were edged with worry. As Trynne and the other passengers approached the dock, they found servants, all female, waiting for them. At least one was dressed as a Shaliah, which Trynne recognized as being like Morwenna’s disguise. The barge slowly glided to a halt at the platform. Water lapped against the stone hull. None of the passengers were allowed to disembark until the leader of the guardswomen explained the situation to the warriors on the platform. After a few moments of discussion, the women were permitted to leave.

Once Trynne was on the stone quay, she followed the others toward the outer wall of the island, which she had seen from a distance. She invoked the word of power xenoglossia, so that she’d be able to understand and communicate. The spell worked instantly, and she suddenly understood the conversations of the girls around her. They were discussing the disruption on the ride, weighing the possibility that the girl who had jumped overboard had been sent to try to kill someone in the zenana. Most of the girls were uncommonly pretty, Trynne noticed, and through their hushed conversations, she could tell some had come to try to win Gahalatine’s heart.