"Your Grace, Grand Master Sura is without and kindly requests a moment of your time," Eve said, bowing.
"Of course. Send her in," Evelyn replied. She placed the book
A Study of Magi and Their Role in Society
on the table, marked the page she was reading, and rose smoothly from the chair by her windows.
Eve returned a moment later with Sura following behind. The newly appointed Grand Master, as short and squat as ever (but looking distinctly exhausted), smiled warmly and dropped into a small curtsy. "Your Grace."
"Grand Master," Evelyn replied, copying her curtsy. She hoped that was the appropriate thing to do.
Sura's knowing smile revealed that she sensed her hesitation. "Very proper," she said.
Evelyn sighed in relief. "I've been studying up on my new position but there's so much to learn!" She indicated her book with a wave of her hand.
Sura glanced down at the book. "Chauncey's
Study
I see. Well, I'm not surprised you couldn't find that information in there. The man was an absolute bore. I'm surprised I didn't catch you napping."
"He is pretty dry," Evelyn admitted, laughing. "Though his perspective of the Magi from a non-Magi view is fascinating."
"But not very revealing," Sura returned with a easy smile. "After all, a non-Magi can only know so much about our organization. I find Sheron's
The God's Appointed Administrators
both hysterical and revealing."
"I will have to read that one," Evelyn said, smiling. "But, where are my manners? Would you care for something to drink? Tea? Wine?"
"Some tea would be lovely."
"Eve, will you bring us some tea?" Evelyn asked her servant.
Eve bowed low. "Your Grace, if you and the Grand Master will follow me to your parlor, I will be happy to serve you."
Evelyn followed Eve to the her personal parlor adjourning her study and took a seat at the table by the window. Sura sat opposite her and smiled absently as Eve poured her some tea. After making sure that Evelyn and Sura had everything they needed, Eve quietly withdrew from the room.
Evelyn and Sura exchanged pleasantries as they blew on their tea and took small sips. After a good-sized swallow, Sura put down her cup and laced her fingers together.
"First of all, I want to congratulate you on your pregnancy."
Evelyn rubbed her stomach absently and smiled. Reynar had revealed that little fact nearly a week ago. It was a good thing too, Evelyn thought, because the secret had started to weigh on her.
"You are most kind," Evelyn said.
Sura smiled. The heavy-set woman reminded Evelyn of a kindly grandmother. "The entire council was delighted to hear it. We've been waiting for a heir for quite some time. It's was good to see King Reynar finally settle down."
"So I've been told," Evelyn quipped.
Sura laughed. "I'm sure you've been listening to that ever since the wedding."
Evelyn took a sip of her tea and smiled. Sura copied her but quickly set down her cup after one sip. "Can I be frank with you, Your Grace?"
"Certainly."
"Truth be told, I'm surprised to see you married so soon after Daminus' death. With all we know about soul-mates, I would've thought...you know..." Sura trailed off delicately.
"That I would have been stark-raving mad or dead by now?" Evelyn asked lightly.
A faint blush rose in Sura's pale, heavy-set face. "Well, frankly, yes. I've never seen a documented case of a soul-mate surviving their spouse's death."
Evelyn set down her cup of tea to give herself a moment to collect her thoughts. Luckily, Reynar and she came up with an answer the day after her wedding. "I took a gamble. Reynar had a theory that if I threw myself into another marriage, it might help ease the heartbreak. And once I became pregnant, perhaps that will finish healing the wound."
"And did it work?" Sura asked. She leaned forward in her chair and stared intently into Evelyn's face.
"Well, I don't feel like killing myself anytime soon," Evelyn replied, chuckling.
Sura sat back in her chair, stunned. "Amazing, simply amazing. We shall have to document this, of course."
It was Evelyn's turn to stare intently into Sura's face. "Grand Master, allow me to be frank, too. I know you must have been curious about my decision, but that's not really the reason you came to see me, is it?"
"You really are very clever. I had forgotten that." She shook her head and chuckled. "Okay, that's not the real reason I came here. While the fact that Reynar unexpectedly picked you to become his queen is highly interesting, the real reason I came here is to discuss Raynolt."
"What about him?" Evelyn asked, her voice suddenly cold. She still regretted her decision not to kill him. Mercy definitely had its drawbacks.
"It's a...convoluted situation," Sura said delicately. "We're just now finding out more information. It's been, what, a month since the attack at the Emporium?"
"It has. So what have you found out?"
"The Magi who claimed loyalty to him and were captured have finally started to crack," Sura said, her face twisting in disgust. "To think, Magi were loyal to that worm!" She shook her head in disbelief.
"Not all Magi are so virtuous as us," Evelyn replied.
Sura sighed. "No, I guess not. Well, it seems that Raynolt's association with the Magi Victus goes back many years, according to some of the prisoners. It appears that he has been planning a grab for power for many years."
"It doesn't surprise me," Evelyn said. "And you don't seem surprised, either."
"I've had my doubts about him," she said, nodding slowly. "And with everything that's happened in the last few months, well, let's just say I didn't buy all of Raynolt's stories at face value."
"What have we learned?"
Sura laughed, though her voice held no mirth. "Where to begin? That man had this thing meticulously planned, I'll give him that. First of all, it was Raynolt who hired the Magi Victus to assassinate Grand Master Boltus."
Evelyn shook her head. "That poor old man," she said sadly. She knew this all along, of course, as she had been there when Raynolt killed Boltus. But she had to play through this charade all the same.
"He also ordered some more assassinations," Sura said. She looked sadly at Evelyn and reached her hand across the table. Evelyn, confused, reached out and grasped her hand.
"Evelyn, my dear, I don't want to have to tell you this but it seems as though Raynolt was responsible for the death of your husband, Daminus. He was the one who hired Jon Laurent. And he was the one who burned his body to make it appear that Halas was responsible."
Even though Evelyn knew what was coming, it didn't stop a lump from forming in her throat. Sura squeezed her hand.
"That bastard," Evelyn said vehemently. She didn't have to fake the venom in her voice.
Sura patted her hand again and sat back in her chair. "I'm sorry to have to bring this news to you, what with Raynolt still on the run. I know you must want justice."
"Justice will find him before the end," Evelyn said softly. If the chance presented itself again, she would not be merciful.
If only I had the courage to kill him when I had the chance!
"I don't doubt it will, Your Grace. And as I said, this also means that Raynolt set up Halas to take the fall for those crimes. He did a very thorough job of it."
"I assume Halas has already been freed?" Evelyn asked as she took a sip of her tea. The tea suddenly tasted very bitter. She sipped it just to give herself something to focus on.
"Of course, Your Grace. He was...a little worse for wear but happy all the same. He has been most ardently pursuing Raynolt's whereabouts since he was freed."
"That's good," Evelyn replied, hoping Sura took the hint from her tone of voice. She really didn't want to discuss anything anymore. It was very hard not to reveal information she already knew.
Sura, however, still looked like she had something she wanted to say. "What is it, Grand Master?" Evelyn asked reluctantly.
Sura licked her lips nervously before leaning over the table. "There is one more thing, Your Grace," she half-whispered.
Evelyn glanced around the room, even though she knew they were the only ones in there. Eve waited just outside the door should Evelyn have the need to call on her.
"What is it?"
"It means that the rumors a while back about Raynolt trying to kill King Reynar were true," she whispered dramatically.
"Is that right?" Evelyn said, hoping her tone didn't betray her. She really needed Sura to leave.
Sura's eyes scanned Evelyn's face for any trace of whatever it was she was looking for. "Raynolt's actions lately have been...erratic," Sura said. "He hasn't been very forthcoming in the council meetings as of late. I thought perhaps you could enlighten us."
Evelyn suddenly knew that this was the real reason Sura had come. The news that Raynolt arranged the assassination of Daminus was just a ploy to gain Evelyn's trust.
"I know as much as you do," Evelyn said, somewhat coldly.
The conspiratorial half-smile on Sura's face melted off as quickly as wax from a candle. She sat back in her chair and stared hard at Evelyn. Evelyn was amazed at how quickly Sura's face transformed into solid rock.
"You two are up to something, aren't you?" Sura asked. "Why else would he suddenly marry you so soon after Daminus' death? And why did he cover up the fact that Raynolt was trying to assassinate him? And why does he have our entire standing army keeping guard on the palace and the city walls when we should be focusing on the Magi Victus?"
"I'm still learning about the powers of the king and council, but I believe the standing army is under the sole discretion of the king."
