Nineteen

Volas kept watch out of one of the high windows looking toward the palace the Cemiri Prince and Princess were being held in. The healer had not returned but he was nonetheless concerned about what might be happening. Messengers from the Cuphisian King had been sent and it seemed another was arriving.

A knock came at the door of the bedroom he was standing in a short time later.

“Enter.”

“One of the Cemiri servants has come.”

He turned on his heel. “With what news?”

“He brought a missive from the Cemiri Lady Aleesia.” 

Volas held out his hand for it. The missives from the Cuphisian King inviting him to a meal and offering reassurance of Marravae’s condition had been read aloud to him but this he wished to see with his own eyes.

“Prince Volas,

Their Highnesses are grateful that your healer, Ellus, was sent. He believes that if Princess Marravae continues to do well she may be able to travel tomorrow or the day after. If the messenger that had difficulties and is being looked after by the Cuphisians requires his aid, please inform us.

Lady Aleesia of Drathe”

He read it twice. “Marravae is doing well, Ellus is with her. They wish to inform me as carefully as they can that at least one of the messengers was intercepted, his condition is unknown to them.

“Send the scribes to me in the study. I will send two more messengers at nightfall. Have the two quickest and quietest of my guard brought there as well. I will not allow these missives to be intercepted and if they are it will cost them dearly.”

The man disappeared back through the door and Volas looked over the note again. He would see to it that they were ready if the Cemiri could escape but he could not demand the return of his men and horses until they received word that the missives had reached his father or King Gaeramith.

He stalked to the study and looked around it impatiently. The two scribes arrived with two of his guards a moment later.

“The messages I must now dictate are grim. I would have you both hear them so that you may do your utmost and escape to relay them if the missives themselves are taken from you.

“To King Gaeramith, forgive my urgency. I send to you on behalf of your children. My messengers have been waylaid by the Cuphisians once. I can only hope that this reaches you and the message intended for my father reaches him.

“I urge you to send a small force to collect Prince Gaeleath and Princess Marravae. The Princess has been poisoned and in her helpless state Prince Myrin joined her in her bed. He saw that she and I were well-suited and I believe that is why he harmed her, to force the match. 

“His defense is that he intended the tainted drink for your son, neither is acceptable and I do not believe they will allow their Highnesses to send a missive speaking of the matter until concessions have been extracted from you or from your children.

“They were taken into the palace with a sizable escort of guards and there is some doubt that Prince Gaeleath will be permitted to leave with his sister which he wished to do the moment she recovered enough to travel. I have sent my healer to look after the Princess and I have received a short carefully worded report from one of her Ladies that she is recovering.

“I have asked King Varas for a small force as well, so that they may understand keeping your children hostage is a violation of the peace. Arek will stand by Cemir.”

One scribe had been writing furiously and the Guards both looked grim. He gestured to the other, “To my father, I have been prevented from sending urgent missives to you and my messengers and their horses are being held or have been slain, I have no way of knowing which. The Cemiri Princess has been poisoned and the Cuphisian her father wished to arrange her to forced himself on her when he saw how well suited to me she is. 

“He claims he intended the tainted drink for her brother and I suspect he gave me the same tainted Zophin. I loathe the wretch and after sharing a drink I felt almost warmly toward him. Prince Gaeleath and I are men and we were not made violently ill by the drink as Princess Marravae was.

“They are being held in the palace despite Prince Gaeleath expressing his wish to bring his sister to my lodging for her safety and have been prevented from sending word to their father. Even to send a message to me it had to be carefully worded. I fear for their safety and I lack the men to free them. I suspect that if I were to attempt to leave I would also be prevented. Arek and Cemir must stand together. What has been done is a violation of the peace.

“I ask you to lend your support to King Gaeramith and send a small force to enable us all to return home.” Volas paused and added with a wry smile, “In the future, Father, our Princes should be accompanied by a small army in such situations. Perhaps you could advise King Gaeramith to do the same if he ever sends both of his children into an uncertain situation again. You at least have my brothers if I should be murdered.”

He waited as the scribe finished and then addressed the guards. “You will each take a missive, one to King Gaeramith and the other to King Varas with haste. Buy or steal horses once you’ve gotten past whoever is keeping watch for my messengers and do whatever you must to have the messages delivered as quickly as possible. If you see the others being held… relay that once you’ve arrived with your missives. I can only demand their release once I know the messages have been received or I may endanger the Cemiri Lady who warned us and their Highnesses.”

“We leave at nightfall, your Highness, they won’t catch us.” His men bowed.