34
A Time for Truth

The group arrived at the Queen’s chambers in an awkward silence and filed in. Alyssa paid no attention to the two hooded figures who followed Tor. She was barely hanging onto her own composure as it was and did not care about the strangers who accompanied him.

‘Gyl, thank you,’ she said and kissed him. ‘I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you. Can I press upon you once more, to muster up one of the maids? I am sure we could all use some refreshment.’

The Under Prime was so confused by his mother’s odd behaviour and her strange visitors that he complied without argument.

Saxon followed him out of the Queen’s rooms and called to him.

The soldier turned on him. ‘You owe me an explanation, Sax. What the hell is this all about?’ he asked in a grim whisper.

Saxon could tell Gyl was about as angry as someone could be yet he managed to control the emotion. The boy had grown up. He faced a man now and one who was due the respect his status demanded.

‘I do owe you an explanation.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s very complicated, Gyl, but trust your mother. This all harks back to her former life, before she was even living in Tal. I promise you, she is in no danger from these people. They bring news she will want to hear. Allow them some privacy. Sallementro and I will keep guard outside until you return.’

Gyl nodded, none the wiser for listening to his friend. ‘No one goes in or out without my permission, Sax. Do we understand one another?’

‘Very clearly, sir,’ Saxon said and noted that Gyl looked suddenly abashed at the respect his former mentor was paying him.

‘I’ll be back soon,’ the Under Prime said, in a less commanding manner and glared at Sallementro who had just come out of the Queen’s rooms.

The musician sighed. The only comfort he could offer was that he was as confused as Gyl was. The musician closed the door softly behind him and hoped the King would return soon and, with him, sanity.

Inside the Queen’s chambers the four stood in uncomfortable silence.

Alyssa waited for the door to close. Then, before Tor could say anything, she spoke, determined to wrest back control of herself and the situation. ‘Will you introduce me to your friends, Tor?’ Her voice was like icy shards dropping on him.

Tor thought of Orlac’s warning on the hilltop and the reality of his vengeance. They were still no closer to the Trinity. The Colours blazed inside him as he felt anger at all the pain and grief his life seemed to bring to others. Then he pushed aside his despair. Whatever else happened tonight, Alyssa would be given the gift of her children. He could do this for her. He ran his fingers through his hair, knowing there was absolutely no turning back now. But there was no easy way to say it; no gentle means of breaking such news to someone who had already survived one shock that night. He must tell the truth in all its stark simplicity.

‘Alyssa.’ He saw her stiffen at him saying her name but he pressed on. ‘This is Gidyon and Lauryn…they are my children.’

The Queen’s spirit died a thousand deaths. Children. So he had married and been given the gift of children, one which she had not been blessed with. So be it. She dug her nails into her palms and delved deep inside herself to find new strength. She was not going to cry at his news. She forced herself to turn towards the two people who stood silently near the window.

They pulled back their hoods and bowed. Together they said, ‘Your majesty.’

The candle glow was low in her rooms, as she preferred at night, but there was absolutely no mistaking the son of Torkyn Gynt, who straightened now and stood before her. She drank in his appearance and fought back the recognition that this was how Tor had looked that day when he caught her posy of flowers. Fresh-faced and brilliantly handsome, the boy Gidyon even possessed identical, disarmingly blue eyes. She wanted to hate him and hate the mother who had borne him in love for his father, but she could not.

Gidyon stepped forward. He was in totally unknown territory now. He had no idea what his father expected, or when the truth would be revealed, but he could not allow his beautiful, tragic mother to stand before him and not touch her. He took her small, elegant hand, bent low and kissed it.

The Queen battled with her emotions. He was every bit as beautiful as his father. She could not look at Tor at this moment. Instead, she took a long, silent, steadying breath and pulled back her hand. She felt the kiss still lingering on it.

Now she turned her attention to the girl. This was a shock. Honey-golden hair gleamed against the perfectly oval face which sat above a petite frame. The Light strike her! Was she imagining it?

Before the girl could make a move or show her respect, Tor moved forwards to stand alongside the Queen. Alyssa could not bear for him to be this close. The conflict between loving him still and hating him passionately for his betrayal was raging inside her, but she was coping with rather too much just now to deal with it. Her eyes were riveted on his gorgeous daughter, Lauryn, whose own grey-green eyes regarded her nervously.

Tor touched her arm. It was an intimate gesture and she felt as though that part of her arm sizzled from the contact. His voice was soft now. ‘Alyssa, does Lauryn remind you of anyone?’

The words caught in her throat but she forced them out with an effort. ‘Dare I say that…Lauryn reminds me of…of me?’ she said, finally looking into those blue eyes.

And now the unthinkable. He reached his arms around her and brought her close against his chest. How could she allow this? How could she permit this man whom she wanted to despise to touch her with such familiarity? Tor kissed the top of her soft, golden-haired head. She felt weak at his touch…but welcomed it.

‘She should remind you of yourself, my love. She is your daughter…our daughter. And Gidyon is our son.’

There. It was said.

Frozen silence reigned for what felt like eternity as the Queen’s mouth opened and shut again and her sad eyes darted from son to daughter and back. The children did not know what to do so they remained quiet; it was best to take their lead from their father right now.

A soft knock was heard at the door. It brought Alyssa out of her trance-like shock. One hand went to her hip; the other covered her mouth to stifle any sound. Tor saw her gulp. She closed her eyes and composed herself. He had watched her do something very similar on the day of his execution. He knew she would survive this. She was brave and strong.

The Queen looked at no one. In silence she went to the door, opened it and allowed her maid to enter with a tray.

‘Hurry, Nelly,’ she said. ‘Over on that table is fine. I’ll take care of it.’

The girl quickly placed the tray where she was told and scurried out of the door, forgetting to curtsy. The Queen did not notice. She turned back into the room, lacing her fingers together as if by doing so she could force all nervous movement to stop.

‘How can this be, Tor?’ she said, surprisingly evenly. ‘If these were the children I bore in the Heartwood, they would barely be out of infancy.’

‘May we sit, your majesty?’ he asked. ‘We have travelled a long way today.’

‘Please,’ she offered. ‘My apologies. Lauryn, perhaps you might pour everyone some wine.’

Lauryn was relieved to have something to do. She felt as if she was about to explode and if it were not for Gidyon in her head, calming her down, making her show patience, she was sure she would let everything spill out. She nodded, smiled a little nervously and walked to the table, past the Queen, who stiffly sat on the window bench.

‘Now tell me,’ she said, looking hard at Tor.

While Lauryn passed around goblets of wine, Tor began to relate the story of the children’s birth. Alyssa felt as if her heart was breaking and the grief she had stored inside for so long flooded her body. As Tor’s soft voice told her of what had happened after the birthing, she began to cry.

Gidyon could no longer bear it. He dared to move and sit alongside the Queen, taking his mother into his arms and holding her close as she wept for the son she thought was dead and the daughter she had never known about.

Tor’s voice broke too. Slowly, he told his terrible tale, about the ordeal of trying to find her again, only to discover she had been captured by Goth. When he spoke of the execution, he faltered and it was Lauryn who comforted him and encouraged him to finish.

Finally Tor explained Merkhud’s Spiriting.

‘I guessed only tonight that it was you in Merkhud’s body, wasn’t it?’ Alyssa said, her eyes sore and red from her tears. Her nose was running too; she must look a fright, she thought.

‘I…I just didn’t know what to say to you. There were so many people around us.’

She nodded, resigned to her life of ongoing sorrow. ‘Go on.’

He told her everything. How he had been brought back to life; how he had flown within Cloot to track down Goth; Cloot’s capture; the voyage to Cipres; how he had finally found Cloot and then, on returning to the Heartwood, had finally been reunited with his children.

Alyssa sat cradled in her silent son’s arms; when the words came out she could not believe how calm she sounded. ‘Where have you both been all this time?’

Lauryn realised the question was being addressed to her. She shrugged. ‘Sorrel took us to another world, a place where time passes differently. Neither of us can remember, I’m sorry. Sorrel said we would forget…and we have.’

Alyssa shook her head sadly. ‘Sorrel,’ she said. ‘So she took you both away?’

‘With the help of the Heartwood,’ Tor said quickly. ‘To safety. Alyssa, can you recall what a terrifying time that was for all of us?’

‘I can’t. I don’t remember anything from that time really, except being happy with you in the Heartwood and then the reality of your execution. In between is just a blur.’ She turned to look at Gidyon. ‘I saw your tiny dead body.’

Tor spoke gently. ‘You saw a glamour, Alyssa. It was meant to make you believe your baby was dead…for your own protection, Lys said.’

‘I hate Lys,’ she replied and it was clear she meant it.

Tor wondered if Alyssa would say that if she knew who Lys was to her. He ground his teeth with anger at how Lys played with their lives.

‘Where is Sorrel now?’ Alyssa suddenly said.

The three travellers looked to each other awkwardly. Tor spoke. ‘We believe she is dead. Like Merkhud, her time was up, I think.’

A new wave of sadness swept through Alyssa. Another death. Another loved one gone.

‘How much more of this is there, Tor?’

‘There is more but it can wait. You now know what I came here to tell you and I should leave.’

She was startled. Leave?

‘No,’ she said, ‘I will not permit it. You will all stay here and we shall talk some more.’

The Queen shook her head again with disbelief as she regarded the two children, now on their feet. ‘I am so glad you ca—’ She could not finish. She began to sob.

Tor, Lauryn and Gidyon put their arms around her and shared her sorrow for all that they had lost as a family.

After seeing to his mother’s wishes, Gyl did a quick round of the Guard. He was too fired up to return to the Queen’s chambers just yet. He trusted Saxon and Sallementro; knew they would not allow any harm to come to her.

He turned to his paperwork and began to sort out some of the messages from the surrounding districts. He was pleased to read that the King was making his way back to Tal and should arrive the following day. Just as he was giving orders for a party of the Shield to greet the King a day’s ride from the city and escort him back, he heard a disturbance.

‘See to that, Brash, would you,’ he said.

The man left the guardhouse and returned a few moments later. ‘It’s an old woman, sir.’

‘Well, give her some soup, man, and get someone to show her the outhouse where she can rest up.’

‘Sir, she demands entry to see the Queen.’

Gyl swung around. ‘The Queen?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Do you know what the time is? Send the old twit on her way. She can make her request through the normal procedures in the morning. Don’t bother me with this.’

‘Sir, she looks half dead. I don’t think she can walk another step. She…er…she says, sir, that she is Queen Alyssa’s former guardian.’

‘Pigs bollocks! Someone will suffer for this,’ Gyl said, his night’s frustration spilling over. ‘Where is she?’

‘At the main gate, sir.’

‘Right,’ he said. He strode off, muttering. ‘If you want something done properly, do it yourself.’

At the main gate, he found a small, very frail-looking old woman. She seemed vaguely familiar but he dismissed the thought in his anger.

‘Now, look, madam. It is past the thirteen bells. Her majesty sleeps,’ he lied. ‘And we have no intention of waking up the Queen to speak with you. Do you understand?’

The old crone pointed a long, bony finger through the iron grille and croaked at him. ‘You are the one who does not understand, young man. Tell the Queen it is Sorrel. She will permit my entry at any time of the day or night.’

‘I will not do any such thing,’ Gyl said, furious with the night’s proceedings and people who seemed to think they could usurp his authority and do precisely what they wanted with palace security. ‘Go away and return tomorrow.’

She ignored him. ‘Is Saxon Fox here?’

‘Sax?’ That surprised him. ‘Look, who are you?’ he asked, realising too late she had already told him. He glanced around at the men, who looked everywhere but at their leader.

The old woman was gracious enough to say nothing more. Gyl considered his position; he felt he was handling this badly. In fact, he had handled the whole of the night badly.

‘Fetch the Kloek,’ he said to one of the men, wearily. ‘He is outside the Queen’s chambers.’ He turned back to the old woman. ‘If he vouches for you, you may enter.’

The children munched on the cheeses, nuts and fruit which were on the tray and talked quietly at one end of Alyssa’s long salon. They were both relieved that the dreaded meeting was behind them.

Lauryn was taken aback at how very young and beautiful her mother still was. Why she had imagined someone much older, she could not think. Her mother had not touched her yet, but Lauryn instinctively sensed she was frightened. Frightened of all the pent-up emotions. She needed to be seen as one who was in control. She was Queen of this realm, after all. And they had plenty of time to get to know one another. Lauryn was looking forward to it. For now, she was just pleased to see her parents talking to one another.

Tor and Alyssa sat in the window seat, the drapes drawn so they could speak in private.

Tor deliberately kept his hands wrapped around his goblet. He dared not put it down for fear that his empty hands would try to find hers. That was too dangerous. There was a painful barrier between them. It was called Lorys.

‘I feel I ought to congratulate you, Lyssa…on…on your brilliant marriage.’ Then he felt stupid for saying it.

Alyssa was aching inside at being so close to him yet unable to so much as touch him. When he called her Lyssa she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying all over again.

‘Don’t, Tor. I can’t begin to explain—’

‘Please…you don’t have to. Truly. You saw me die. I cannot imagine how you coped alone for as long as you did. Losing a child, losing me, losing all of us from the Heartwood…I hope he makes you happy,’ he said, trying to mean it as he looked directly at her, which was hard enough in itself.

‘Yes,’ was all she trusted herself to say, although she allowed herself the luxury of staring into those eyes she had loved for so long.

He broke the difficult moment; moved from what stood in the way of him holding her close again. ‘The children are magnificent, Lyssa. They are strong and brave. Both possess great powers—Gidyon especially. We have created two very special people, even if…’ He could not finish.

Alyssa rescued him; tried to sound bright. ‘They are wonderful. I feel badly that they have seen me in such a state. I hope I can get to know them more fully. I hope you will stay a while?’

‘They should stay, but I do not believe the King will welcome me with open arms.’

They let that subject rest. Alyssa had not even thought so far ahead as to consider how the King might react to all of this. She was finding it hard to come to terms with it herself. It felt so unreal.

‘Tell me about Gyl,’ Tor said.

‘I adopted him several years ago now. He was found outside the palace one morning, chained to the gates…a forlorn little thing, he was. Nyria took pity on him immediately.’ She saw him smile as he remembered how Nyria had always taken pity on all children. ‘She gave him to me to care for. He was young enough to still need a mother, and I was still hurting from my loss and needed rescuing. He was my saviour. He and Saxon, Sallementro, Nyria…and later, Lorys.’

‘He loves you very much.’

‘The King loves me deeply, Tor.’

‘No, I mean Gyl.’

‘Oh.’ She felt embarrassed. ‘Er…yes. Gyl and I are very close. He is distressed about me because I collapsed last week. I felt this strange shift in the Land’s force—’

Tor did take her hand now; he could no longer bear not to touch her. ‘I did too. All of us did: the children, Saxon, all those in the Heartwood.’

‘It is Orlac, isn’t it? He has broken free?’

‘Yes. He summoned me.’

She gripped his hand hard. ‘You have seen him?’ She was alarmed.

‘We spoke. He intends to kill us all.’

‘Sweet mercy,’ she whispered. ‘What about the Trinity?’

‘I called the children back to Tallinor because I hoped they may shed some light on the dark secret. But I am no closer to knowing, Alyssa. I am afraid for them…and for you.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘This first,’ he said, reaching to touch her forehead.

She made a surprised sound as the gem fell away into his hand and she felt connected to her powers again for the first time in many years. He sliced open a link in her mind. It felt wonderful to have Tor back in her head again.

And this second, he said, putting his lips to hers. When she did not pull away he kissed her gently.

I needed to do that, to tell you that I have never stopped loving you. And, because I love you so much, I release you from all duty to me. You are in the most difficult of situations and I did not come here to complicate matters any more than I have to. I needed to warn you so that you might be protected whilst I decide on my next move.

She was about to reply when there was a knock. Saxon announced himself and said he had a surprise for them.

‘Not another one,’ Alyssa muttered, emerging from behind the drapes. ‘I am not sure my heart can take it. Come!’

The door was opened by Sallementro. Saxon’s arms were full with what looked like a huge bundle of rags.

The bundle moved and everyone stood in surprise.

‘Sorrel!’ Lauryn squealed.

Pandemonium broke out in the room.