Page 4 of The Empty Throne

"If His Majesty had believed that, he wouldhave sent one of them. We have to assume he had good reason forsending Cohea." Even to his own ears, the words sounded weak. HisMajesty's orders had been increasingly strange in the weeks leadingup to his death. They'd started to fear that perhaps he'd finallybeen afflicted with the madness that cropped up in the royal lineevery couple of generations. Healers had pronounced him sound,though, and before he'd been able to explain himself, His Majesty,the queen, and their two daughters had been horrifically murderedby way of a nasty, fast-acting poison.

Right before a meeting Kite was meant to havewith His Majesty about something important. Unfortunately, it wouldseem the mystery of that meeting would remain unsolved.

Kite had been the one to find the bodies, andthe memory haunted his dreams every single night.

He shoved the contract away, concentrationruined, and rose to join Sobeki at the enormous glass window thatoverlooked the grand courtyard. Normally it would be bustling withpeople: servants and runners, nobility going about their days,visitors come to gawk at the famous Palace of Rainbows.

Now, though, it was as empty and still as agraveyard. Cremisio didn't bury their dead, instead cast them tosky or sea, but he'd studied abroad in places where the dead werereturned to the earth, small stone memorials all that remained ofwhat they'd once been.

"He'll be back soon," Kite said. "It's Cohea.If he can escape being taken hostage by pirates, he can escapeanything. Even the flock of unwed can't snare him, and they tryharder than anyone."

That got Sobeki to laugh. They were mirroropposites, him and Sobeki, though they were legally brothers. Kitehad pale brown skin, Sobeki dark. Kite's hair was long, loose curlsin gold-brown tones, and Sobeki's hair was a deep brown-black insmall, tight curls he kept ruthlessly pulled back. Kite hadfreckles everywhere; Sobeki's skin was flawless, unmarked by even amole. Kite had dark brown eyes; Sobeki's were the palest green he'dever encountered. Kite was tall and broad; Sobeki was nearly aswaifish and small as he'd been as a child.

They were both smart, though, and could holdtheir own in a fight, though they had completely different styles.Their father, the late Duke of Havenstrite, had worked hard toensure they'd always be able to look after themselves and eachother.

He'd succeeded a little too well, as upon thereading of the king's will, it was to hear His Majesty haddesignated Kite regent until his heir could properly take thethrone.

Kite was not enjoying the duty remotely. He'dbeen working in the royal offices to please his father, and then tofinish out his training term before he settled fully into being thenew head of Havenstrite.

Why him, none of them would ever know, butKite constantly wished His Majesty had chosen literally anyone elsein the world.

A knock came at the door, causing them toturn in unison, and Kite called out, "Come in."

Derow, the clerk who staffed the outersanctum, bowed briefly. "Lord Myre, there is someone here to seeyou who insists it’s urgent and for no one but you. He seems… quitethe worse for wear… and bears the remains of the livery ofLindquist."

The stone that had been forming slowly inKite's chest dropped into his stomach. "We'll come at once. Wheredid you put him?"

"In the receiving office."

"Thank you."

Kite burst into motion, Sobeki right besidehim as they cut through the palace to the public rooms, down thehalls to the public-facing office where His Majesty, and now Kite,met with various guests.

He threw the door open, and Sobeki slammed itshut behind them.

Sure enough, a soldier in Lindquist liverythat had seen much better days. The poor bastard was beaten atleast half to death, and clearly struggling to stay on his feet.Sobeki surged forward and got him seated, fancy velvet cushions bedamned, and then called for tea, food, and a healer.

"What happened?" Kite asked.

"We were ambushed on the road just outside ofBlackgate. They knew we'd be going that way. I don't know how.Slaughtered everyone. Took His Grace prisoner. I'm so sorry. I dideverything I could. I only survived because I went tumbling down ahill, and they didn't notice I wasn't amongst the bodies." The manclosed his eyes, tears slipping free anyway. "I'm sorry."

Sobeki sat on the edge of the chair's armrestand took the man's hand. "You don't need to be sorry. If you wereambushed so expertly, then you were betrayed. I am sorry for theloss of your comrades. Is there anything you can tell us about thecaptors?"

"Terekians, that much I know. They weredressed unremarkably, but I heard them talking once they thoughteveryone was dead. I don't know the language well enough to tellyou which clan, but I swear on my life they were from Terek."

A knock came at the door, and Kite motionedfor Sobeki to stay where he was, getting it himself and ushering inthe healer and servant. The latter set the tray down and setimmediately to pouring tea and filling a plate with food beforebowing and departing.

The healer shooed Sobeki out of her way, thenpulled up a foot stool to sit on and immediately set to work.Thankfully many of the poor bastard's wounds were minor scrapes andbruises that would heal near-instantly. The rest, unfortunately,from the broken nose, the deep cut on his cheek, and the far worsedamage across his torso and legs, would take time to healcompletely.

Kite winced in sympathy as the man gasped inpain, looking near to passing out, as the healing magic sweptthrough him. Often with healing magic, the cure could feel as badas, if not worse than, the initial damage.

"Thank you," the man rasped as the healerfinished.

"Always my pleasure to help," the healerreplied with a smile. She reached into her heavy bag and pulled outa familiar pain tonic and a packet of tea. "One measure everytwelve hours, and drink a cup of tea, preferably two, with everymeal and once before bed. That should take care of anythinglingering. Six weeks and you'll be right and tight."

"Thank you again, mistress."

"Good evening, sir, Your Highness, YourLordship." She bowed and departed.

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