Yet, he was more than a name too, though I had no wish to dwell on that.
When I opened my eyes again, Loelle was standing behind the captain, looking as if a terrible weight had settled on her shoulders. Tenger wasn’t smiling either. He said, “There is something else of great concern to us. An explosion that makes the bridge collapse look like child’s play.” He looked up at Loelle to continue.
She said, “After Wynnow caught me with the necklace, she ordered my arrest, but I escaped. For your sake, I remained hidden near the Brillian palace
.” Loelle paused, possibly recalling the sounds and smells of that night, just as I had so often done. “I saw the explosion, Kestra. It must have destroyed half the capital city, including the entire palace. Seconds later, I saw you race down the hillside as fast as that horse could carry you.”
“I didn’t cause that!” I said, realizing only after I spoke where this conversation was headed.
“Of course not,” Tenger said. “Nothing could explain such extensive damage … outside of magic.”
Loelle added, “We believe that Lord Endrick was there and that he now has the necklace. Is that true?”
I lowered my eyes, letting my silence answer them. Confirming it aloud would invite more questions, none of which I wanted to revisit.
Tenger gave a long sigh, then said, “I’ll require your full explanation … when you’re stronger. Then we’ll figure out how to explain it to the Brillians when they come to you for answers.”
I could only imagine how that conversation would go. But for now, I had other worries. “May I see Simon?”
“Not now, I’m afraid.”
Alarmed, I started to sit up. “Is he still—”
“Alive? Yes, but he is a king now … thanks to you. And he has his duties, as you have yours.”
“Five minutes, Tenger. Haven’t I earned that much?”
His smile became almost sympathetic. “You have, but that’s not my decision. Even I have no access to him. Trust me, I’ve tried.”
Biting on one lip, I asked, “Does he know I’m here?”
“I don’t know.” Tenger said Gabe’s name, then, “You heard the Infidante. Will you try to answer her question? You too, Loelle.”
Gabe nodded. “Yes, sir.” Then he parted the tent flap for Loelle and followed her out, leaving me alone with Tenger. That was no accident.
Tenger turned back to me, and the time for sympathy had passed. “There’s no future for you and Simon, no hope. Do you understand that?”
“Why not? Because you don’t believe it’s possible?”
“Because you have bigger concerns. Lord Endrick knows by now that you have magic.”
I half smiled, though I took no joy in it. “You have no idea how well he knows it.”
Tenger clicked his tongue, then leaned forward, one arm on each knee. “If it’s true that Endrick has the necklace, then he knows about Simon. If you stay in Nessel, you will bring Endrick here.”
Just as I started to reply, Gabe burst in with a scroll in one hand. “A message has come from the Halderians. On behalf of the new king of the Halderian clan, Commander Mindall would like to invite all distinguished Coracks to a supper tonight.”
I sat up in bed. “I’ve got to see him, Tenger.”
“The necklace—”
“It’s just to say good-bye. Allow me that.”
Tenger frowned, but gave me a slight nod. “Just to say good-bye.”
The day after I awoke looked to be unbearably long and utterly without mercy.
I was in a bed of carved wood, tucked between silken sheets that never could belong to someone of my station. But when I tried to get up, the bandages tightly wrapped around my chest, shoulder, and right arm were a reminder that the nightmare I vaguely remembered actually had happened.