Page 43 of A Crown of Darkness

The grin fell away from Tobias’s face. ‘Yes. She was. Just a girl indeed. She was only here briefly, visiting friends and family I believe. Magic was involved in whatever happened to her, puppeting and coercing her. It is a forbidden kind, one which we do not practise. We would like answers as to what happened to her. She was murdered.’

At least they agreed on that.

‘What does your chancellor say?’

For a moment Tobias’s eyes seemed to cloud and Roland couldn’t quite read what he saw there. Dismay, or disdain, or…

‘Master Vambray?’ It was Vivienne again. Her hand closed on his shoulder. ‘Are you all right?’ She took his hand, pressed something into it. Roland couldn’t see what but it looked like straw.

The man swallowed hard and a shudder ran through him. ‘Yes, I…I will be. Thank you, Vivienne. Perhaps we should see to the needs of our guests, find them quarters and some refreshments? Were any of you injured? Vivienne is one of ourforemost healers. Truly gifted in that regard. She has charms of protection that are unmatched.’

Though she only looked a few years younger than him, Vivienne blushed like a girl at his words. ‘Chancell— I mean, Master Vambray is too kind, but if I can be of help, I will.’

Anselm frowned and seemed about to say something, but the doors ahead of them opened and they were ushered into a reception chamber that rivalled anything Pelias could offer.

The far-off ceiling was painted dark blue and spotted with gilt stars, while on either side of them marble columns rose like saplings towards that ersatz sky. Gleaming bookshelves lined the long length of the wide-open space, with a central mosaic depicting fantastic beasts and elemental creatures, some of which Roland couldn’t even name.

Elodie would be able to, he thought sombrely. She’d know all about this place. She would have made it her business to find out. Roland had never really given the College much thought beyond ‘ally’ and ‘not a threat’ and he was beginning to regret that now.

Beyond the reception hall, there was a long refectory with fireplaces at either end. The polished tables stretched its length, and in places people were already eating, while others gathered around to talk and laugh. A silence spread through the groups as they entered, all eyes turning on them. Once more they were reminded that witchkind didn’t take kindly to knights. Perhaps they never would and who could blame them? Another thing for Roland to try to fix one day. His list was getting far too long. Vambray spoke softly to one of the attendants, whose eyes widened for a moment but who then bowed and hurried off to arrange a meal for them.

Food was served quickly, roast meats and fresh bread with a sweet wine which rivalled that offered at the royal table. The three knights ate sparingly, watching their host with somecare, and didn’t touch the wine. It couldn’t hurt to be careful, no matter how warm their welcome. Or chill, as the case was here. If their caution was noticed, or deemed an insult, no one commented. People came and went with messages for Tobias and Roland thought absently that even if he wasn’t chancellor anymore, people still seemed to be treating him as such. Some of them, anyway. And perhaps he was still fulfilling much of the role. It begged the question of what had happened and why the new chancellor was not doing their job.

‘Your people still look to you for wisdom,’ he said, carefully. Not a question. Not quite. A comment to be dismissed as a compliment, he hoped.

Tobias looked up from what was obviously some kind of accounts of stores and he smiled. ‘Experience, I’m afraid, that’s all. I did this part of the job too well perhaps, and the College must be provisioned still, especially with more witchkind finding their way here.’

‘More witchkind?’ asked Anselm.

‘Oh yes, every day. Old magic is stirring in the land, wakening in people who were only sensitive to it before. They don’t know what else to do and their family and neighbours…well… You must have noticed.’

‘We had other things on our minds,’ Olivier muttered darkly, and clenched his hands into fists. Beside him Vivienne gave him an odd look.

‘Were you hurt?’ she asked.

‘No, it’s nothing.’ He flexed his hands again. ‘Since coming inside your walls, I…it’s nothing. Really.’

‘Let me see.’ Her voice was calm and determined, the kind of voice Elodie used with patients, and Roland knew Olivier would lose the fight. Anselm drew nearer to them, speaking in hushed tones. He saw Vivienne examine Olivier’s hands and then shefished about in the pouch at her belt, handing each of them another of those little twists of straw.

She turned to Roland, her eyes nervous all of a sudden. He thought of the way Carlotta had looked at him, on the rare occasions she tried to make eye contact. Vivienne’s hand extended, with one of those charms in it, trembling against her skin.

Tobias was still talking and Roland hesitated to reach out.

‘Whatever happened in Pelias has echoed through the land itself, I think.’ Tobias put down the papers and leaned forward as if to impart some kind of confidence. ‘And the witchkind have always been attuned to the land, to old magic. It grows stronger. Lark and Robin are evidence of that. These are just for basic protection and Vivienne makes them stronger than most. I have a hypothesis?—’

‘Vambray, what is the meaning of this!’ A voice echoed from the far end of the refectory hall. Vivienne snatched her hand back, the charm vanishing with it. ‘You bring our noble guests within our walls, and then don’t inform me? For goodness’ sake, man! What are you thinking?’

CHAPTER 24

ROLAND

A woman in a deep purple robe swept down the room towards him, accompanied by a flock of attendants. For a moment Roland sat as still as possible, just staring, because next to his queen and beloved, this figure was frankly the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. His own age, perhaps, but certainly no older, she had an ageless quality to her face and movement, her dark brown hair swept up to accentuate her long neck and her soft golden skin. She wore academic robes of office, he realised, but on her they looked like something someone might wear to a ball.

She stole his breath. And his common sense as well. For a moment he couldn’t think.

What kind of old goat have you turned into?Elodie laughed in the back of his mind and he almost flinched, as if she had whispered it from right behind him, as if he could feel her breath on the skin of his neck. Roland shook himself back to sense.

Tobias shifted uncomfortably as the woman approached and Roland thought for a moment he’d hoped to avoid her. Or feared she had overheard whatever he had been about to say.

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