The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)(87)

As Gahalatine carried it back to her, careful not to slosh the hazy water, she asked, “Is that magic from the Deep Fathoms?”

Gahalatine shook his head. “No, this came from another world. Useful, is it not? They are called ‘leerings’ there . . . after the word of power that summons light. Le-ah-eer.”

As he said the word, the carving began to glow, flooding the tent with more light.

“You know words of power?” she asked him, impressed.

Gahalatine knelt in front of her again and shrugged. “A few. When you are around Wizrs, you pick up on them.” He set the bowl down on her lap. “Let me see your hands.”

She pulled off the battle gauntlets that were part of her armor and he set them on the floor. The black tunic beneath her armor went down to her wrists. He gazed at her hands and then helped them into the bowl, washing them with the rag and the warm water.

“Thank you for sending your surgeons to the castle,” she said, realizing that she hadn’t thought to say it earlier. “That was kind of you.”

She saw him smile in a self-conscious way. “Of course you would be worried. We will try to save as many as we can. I brought many surgeons with my ships for the purpose of healing your people after we’d defeated them.” He sighed. “I’ll admit that it was more challenging than I expected. A good fight. An honorable one.” He gave her a tender look and set the bowl on the ground.

“First, you must eat and rest,” he said. “In keeping with our traditions, I’d offer to bathe you completely, but I understand that your traditions and sensibilities are much different, and it would more likely embarrass you than do you honor.”

Her cheeks flushed crimson at his suggestion and he laughed softly. “I thought as much. You will rest in here. I will bring you some food later, and then we can discuss terms.”

She shook her head. “I am not going to rest while my people worry in anticipation. We will discuss terms now. We may well be at an impasse.”

His brow wrinkled. “Surely not,” he said. He put his elbows on the chest and looked up at her. “I’ve won the day, Tryneowy. Another quarter hour and every man . . . or woman . . . defending your king would have been struck down, except yourself. You were not counting on Grand Duke Elwis to save you? Or the soldiers in the mountains? They’re both cut off from you, and I have even more reinforcements on the way by sea. Your king has my sister as a hostage. And I have you. I don’t believe you are going to slay my sister any more than your king believes I’d slay you. As if I could! You are the prize I wanted, Tryneowy.” He took her damp hand and brushed his lips against it. It sent shivers of fire up her whole arm.

He rose and pulled her up with him. “Rest. You are weary and tired. I don’t want you to regret your answers. I don’t want you to say later that you didn’t have your full wits when you promised to be mine. That you were forced to be my wife, my queen, my confidante.”

She looked him in the eye, seeing the earnestness in his words. “I will not have you,” she said.

“Do not say that,” Gahalatine said, shaking his head. “What must I do to earn your consent? I know you surely will not accept me without terms. I am prepared to make them.” He stabbed his chest with his finger. “It was you at the Battle of Guilme. The Painted Knight. The king’s best-kept secret. You are not just a wise maiden, but you are a warrior too! Do you not understand how intoxicating I find that? How much you intrigue me? Very little does that anymore. I wish to join with you, for you would shape me into a better man, I know it.

“I have faults and flaws, but a lack of honor is not one of them. I would never take you by force. Tryneowy, I am dazzled by you and all that you have accomplished. You’ve earned my respect and admiration. I had heard about your disfigurement, but in truth, I find you very attractive. Being with you right now is tormenting me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.” He turned away from her, perhaps to conceal or control his emotions. “I’ve been caught in a trap the Wizrs set. Brought perilously close to submitting, for there was no other choice. They sought to force me to marry another, the king’s sister. Someone they could control. They promised me that she would be everything I desire in a wife. You are my chance to be free of them.”

He pivoted on his heel to face her again. “I knew of you previously, of course. The Mandaryn said marrying someone from Kingfountain would help secure the peace quickly. I wished to marry you and invite your father to serve me, but they took him away. They’ve hidden him from me . . . from us.

“It was Rucrius’s doing. He led the Mandaryn. They have more power than you can understand. Every emperor before has been controlled by them, but I will shake off the yoke. With our gifts merged together, we can do it. Now, do not tell me that you will not consent. I cannot accept that answer. What would it take to win you? Name it, Tryneowy. I would give you half of my kingdom. But truly, it is yours anyway! Name your terms and I will accept them. Only be mine.”

His tone was pleading and passionate. There was ambition in his eyes, but it was not the only thing she saw there. There was open fascination in his gaze, as if everything about her intrigued him. She’d always felt so marred, so flawed. Morwenna was infinitely more beautiful. Yet he professed to feel passion for Trynne. But did he truly know her? They had only spoken twice. Was he in love with the idea of her? A conjuring of his own imagination?