The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 3)(89)
Suzenne lowered her head and sighed with gratitude. “His army tried to halt the Naestors, but they were outnumbered and overrun. His force has been trapped behind our enemies, but he managed to get some Pry-rian hunters through with a message.”
“Thank Idumea,” Maia breathed. “If Murer had gotten him alone.”
Suzenne nodded. “Dodd felt the same way. He felt the temptation . . . the prideful conviction that he could handle her. I am grateful he heeded the Medium’s warning instead. He has been wounded in the fighting with the Naestors, but he promises it is nothing serious.” She screwed up her confidence. “I should not have doubted.”
“I am relieved.” The two friends embraced again.
“Have you had any word from Gideon?” Suzenne asked.
Maia knew that her own dark expression revealed the truth.
Maia spent the rest of the afternoon walking the abbey grounds, seeking the Medium’s guidance and direction as she went. She wished her grandmother were there so they could walk together as they had in the past. Whenever she thought about Sabine, a gnawing dread filled her stomach. She had lost her parents. Now she was about to lose her grandmother too.
“What would you have me do?” Maia whispered as she walked through the rows of purple mint, hearing the droning bees among them. Her thoughts were interrupted when she walked past a stranger. Maia returned the nod of the young fellow, who did not appear to realize who she was.
Wanting to be left alone to her brooding, she retreated to her mother’s garden. After opening the door with the Leering, she shut it behind her and leaned back against it, closing her eyes. There was solitude in this garden, yes, but there were ghosts as well. She remembered seeing the white lily amidst the crown of blue flowers. And the dazzling mix of forget-me-nots summoned Collier’s voice again and again in her mind. She sighed deeply and stepped away from the door so she could walk past the accusing plants and wander the rest of the garden.
Earlier that afternoon, she had used her Gift of Invocation to study all of the Leerings she could find on the grounds and learn their purposes. Even now, she felt the power of the abbey Leerings pressing at the edge of her awareness. They would obey her in unison, she knew. She could sense the water Leerings that would summon the rivers to flood the lower valleys of Muirwood Hundred in case of emergency. The last time those had been invoked was when Lia had used them to defend the abbey against the Queen Dowager, a hetaera.
Maia folded her arms tightly around herself, feeling a chill in the shadows of the garden. It was getting late and her stomach growled for supper. She pictured Collett and Thewliss, the two kitchen helpers Aloia and Davi. It had been several days since she had seen them. The little kitchen had become such a tranquil escape for her.
She heard the squeal from Thewliss’s cart wheels approaching the garden. Had her thoughts summoned the old man? Though he never spoke to her unless asked a direct question, he was a gentle, caring man and a good companion.
Maia rubbed her arms as she gazed at the trees and plants. The garden was beautiful and peaceful, yet the real world lay outside of it. She felt a little guilty about resting in this place of peace when her people were marching against their enemies. There were battles being fought throughout the realm. She thought about the Earl of Caspur and his valiant efforts to hedge the enemy’s advance and protect those who were fleeing to Muirwood. She thought of Aldermaston Wyrich and his young maston warriors marching south to aid him. How many soldiers were wounded and bleeding? How many would only find sleep in their graves?
Please, if there is a way to prevent this bloodshed, she thought desperately, pouring out her heart to the unfathomable power of the Medium. Would you have us be their slaves? Would that suffice? They promised they would butcher us, but would it save lives on both sides if we agreed to do their bidding? Is that what you will from me?
She felt no answer from the Medium. Then a new thought nagged at her mind. Though she had visited every Leering around the grounds, she had not checked the Leerings that were actually hidden within the abbey. There were carvings inside that brought light, prevented plants from wilting, and served other purposes. She knew the story of how the residents of Muirwood had huddled within the abbey as the Queen Dowager began to burn it. Surely her entire kingdom could not fit inside, but was there another Leering that could be invoked to help them? Perhaps one capable of changing the heart of a man born to violence?
The thought niggled at her. Was such a thing possible? Her mind turned to the kishion, how his heart had softened and changed. What had happened to make it so? Her thoughts continued down this path as the door of the garden opened and Thewliss shuffled inside with his cart. Owen Page followed him inside.
“What is it?” Maia asked the breathless young man.
“My lady,” he gasped. “The Aldermaston bade me to find you. A ship has been seen coming up the river!”
Her heart clenched with dread. “Whose ship?” she asked, the feeling of desolation welling inside her.
“Not a Naestor ship, ma’am. It is from Dahomey. The hunters sent word by pigeon. They said it is the Argiver. The Aldermaston wanted you to know right away. It will dock after nightfall.”
Maia’s eyes were wide with relief and a thrilling joy burst in her heart. She blinked away tears and started to tremble in relief and anticipation. “The Argiver! Tell the Aldermaston I will be there shortly. Tell him he is coming. The King of Dahomey is coming to help us!”