Chapter 10

Skylar placed a light kiss on Petra’s cheek and watched her for an hour the glass he sat there and felt the cool smooth surface then put it in his void as Rose entered the room.

‘Rose, Petra woke up and removed the glass but now just needs to sleep.’ He said as he stroked her cheek before standing up.

‘She will live.’ She said with a relieved smile as she sat on the bed.

‘You really do like her don't you.’

‘Very much Skylar.’ She looked at him as he watched the woman in the bed.

‘Has she told you anything about herself?’ His fingers played with the glass.

‘Little glimpses when she’s not thinking, but her memories cause her so much pain. Would you tell me who it was that tried to kill her?’ She glanced at him. ‘I don’t agree with everyone that Petunia did this. Why would she eat something she knew was going to kill her?’

‘Yes, I know she’s not the one. The person had given themselves away that night but the vision proved it.’ He said in a hard voice. ‘I hope Petunia will live long enough for Petra to try and do something for her.’

‘Who did this?’ Rose jumped to her feet, turned to him and gave him such a pleading look he almost told her.

‘I promise, the person will pay for what they have done, but I won’t say who it is until Petra’s there to witness.’ He held her hands. ‘Stay close to her when she’s able to get out of bed until it’s done and let her have no visitors.’

‘No chance of anything else.’

‘I’m letting it slip that Petra . . . died.’

‘Why?’ She asked in horror at the thought.

‘Then the person will not try anything until I’m ready to act.’ He looked to the bed. Rose found a tear about to escape from her eye and wiped it away as she hugged her brother. ‘Her land, this land. Abilities, magic.’

‘What?’

‘When she first came she referred to her home as a different land, and magic as abilities . . . almost like hands that everyone has.’

‘Well even I know there are only three other lands, she looks nothing like the people from any of them. And in all the lands only a few are born with magic . . . Is there another I don't know about?’

‘No.’ He let his mind turn over slowly and found his eyes stray to the cliffs. ‘No, that’s just a myth.’ But his mind had been going to the cliffs more and more often these days. As a child he loved the stories his tutors told of the cliffs and often asked how they knew there were no people up on top. He would read everything about the Lonely Queen because his tutors refused to tell him. They would end up getting angry and ignore his questions.

‘What?’

‘Nothing dear, I have another meeting to go to, but I’ll return later.’

‘Okay.’

Skylar entered the meeting room and found the men pouring over maps and lists of people with strained looks, he sighed and joined them.

A week later, Petra felt almost back to normal, but knew if she used her abilities too much, she would set her recovery back, but she didn't say anything to either Rose or Skylar.

‘I wanted to ask you if you’re well enough to look at someone who’s been blamed for your poisoning?’ Skylar sat beside her.

‘I will look. I think you don’t believe this person is to blame.’

‘I know she’s not . . . it’s Petunia, the head cook. It looks like she ate some of your meal and poisoned herself in the process.’

‘Petty . . . Take me to her; I know that woman would never harm anyone.’ She stood up and waited. Skylar took her arm and stopped her from moving to the door.

‘I’ve let people think you are dead, to keep you safe. I have another way.’ He steered her to the bookcase by the fireplace and touched a small carved rose. She heard an audible click and the whole shelving moved back a few feet. ‘If you ever need to use this, you can.’ He didn’t wait for her reply as he escorted her through a maze of passages. He held his finger to his lips to let her know that she needed to stay quiet. He stopped and lifted a small metal flap and looked out. He waited a few minutes then touched a brick, it scraped before a door opened and he took her hand as they walked into a tiny bedroom.

‘Petty.’ She said as she hurried to the bed and sat down. Without even thinking about herself, she placed her hands over Petty’s stomach and released a spell that would do the work for her. ‘We just have to wait.’ She whispered. ‘The spell will do what is needed, but I’m not sure there’s enough time. She’s close to death.’ She turned back and touched Petunia’s cheek. ‘I know that you are not the one that put the glass into my food Petty. Don’t give up the fight.’ She placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and stood up.

‘Someone’s coming.’ He said and hurried them to the hidden door, they stood behind it and each watched through the peep holes. A woman and young man entered, they stood over Petunia.

‘Not much longer.’

‘I’m surprised she lasted this long. The other died only days after she ate it.’

‘Yes, but that foreign b***h ate almost the whole bowl before stopping.’ She bent over and lifted the sheet and threw it over the old woman’s face. ‘That’s much better, maybe her spirit will think the body’s dead and give up.’ She laughed softly as they left the room.

Skylar felt Petra tremble beside him; he gave her hand a squeeze. When the door was shut he opened the way and lowered the sheet.

‘Keep fighting Petty.’ He hurried from the room and took Petra back to her room.

When they sat Petra asked a question that she’d been mulling over for a long time. ‘What is it about people that allows them to take a life?’

‘I honestly don’t know.’ He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her a little closer. ‘If she lives she will be cleared of the charges.’

‘Charges?’

‘She is being charged with your death.’ He saw the look on her face. ‘I know the person who’s to blame, but I need to wait until you are better.’

‘But Petty doesn’t deserve to be treated like a criminal.’

‘I promise you, the guards who are tending her, know the truth; they agreed to have her there to keep her safe.’

‘Do you know she has given up drinking over the last few months?’

‘I take it you helped her.’

‘Yes, she just needed a little help. So they were after me, not you or Rose.’

‘Yes.’

‘What did I do?’

‘I don’t understand it either.’ He pulled her in so he could wrap his arms around her. He looked into her eyes and smiled a little. ‘How can anyone have anything against you?’ He kissed her cheek softly then stood up. ‘Rose will be here soon to take you through the hidden way to the throne room.’ He left through that way. Petra sat there watching the hidden door with her heart racing.

‘Petra, are you ready?’ Rose asked quietly as she opened the door which joined their rooms.

‘Yes, do you know who it was?’

‘No, and trust me I have been nagging Skylar so much . . . he actually refused to come to breakfast.’

‘I'm sorry for all the trouble I’ve brought you, especially between you and your brother.’

‘You are not to blame, and Skylar and I have had bigger arguments . . . by far.’ She laughed.

Petra walked to the rose and pushed it, as the shelf slid back she looked at Rose.

‘Skylar showed you.’

‘Yes, he took me to see what I could do for Petty.’

‘And?’

‘Rose, I can’t promise anything, I have done what I can.’

‘Thank you; if she dies I won’t forgive the person responsible. We are about to find out who is responsible.’ She took Petra's hand and set off for the throne room. By this time Rose had taken to treating Petra more like a sister rather than a companion.

Skylar had told her that he would need to show the culprit just how he reacted to this kind of attack. He was sitting on his thrown with his hand resting lightly on the arm of the second one before rising, they both stopped halfway to the thrown and waited. Skylar walked towards them.

‘Brother . . . what are you going to do?’

‘I need to be seen taking a stand to anyone that strikes . . . this close to my sister.’ He just stood there and looked into her eyes before he shrugged as if it was just a formality, but Petra and Rose saw something else was going on. ‘Rose, if you would take your seat. Petra, if you would stand behind it so no one can see you until I call you.’ He touched her hand lightly.

‘Okay.’ Both women said together and took their places.

As Petra stood behind the tall back of Rose’s thrown, hidden from view, she watched Skylar with curiosity.

‘Skylar?’

‘Yes sis.’ His fingers traced the carved animal on the arm of his seat.

‘When are you going to put another woman on this seat?’

‘What are you talking about?’ He tried to sound oblivious, but his heart gave a powerful thud at the thought.

‘Brother you understand me.’

‘I will . . . when it is time.’ He said with a grin, but didn’t look at his sister, his thumb rubbed the glass keeping it hidden from all; the doors were opened by two guards. Rose's companions enter the room. Skylar reached over and touched his sisters’ arm. ‘If you will all just stand before us, I will begin in a moment.’ He bent over a little and whispered to Rose. ‘Try not to show any surprise.’