Mirror Sight (Page 64)
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214
- Page 215
- Page 216
- Page 217
- Page 218
- Page 219
- Page 220
- Page 221
- Page 222
- Page 223
- Page 224
- Page 225
- Page 226
- Page 227
- Page 228
- Page 229
- Page 230
- Page 231
- Page 232
- Page 233
- Page 234
- Page 235
- Page 236
- Page 237
- Page 238
- Page 239
- Page 240
- Page 241
- Page 242
- Page 243
- Page 244
- Page 245
- Page 246
- Page 247
- Page 248
- Page 249
- Page 250
- Page 251
- Page 252
- Page 253
- Page 254
“Yes,” the professor said, his voice the flat, low growl of a dog preparing to attack. “What were you doing to Arhys? Speak!”
Karigan’s mouth dropped open. The professor had a look in his eye, the one suggesting he’d kill her if she didn’t say the right thing. The contrast from the congenial man she’d grown to know shocked her.
Then suddenly Luke was at her side and the stable boys behind him. Somehow they’d gotten around the upset Raven to reach her. Luke held out his hand and helped her stagger to her feet. “Raven’s much calmer now,” he reassured her.
To the professor, he said, “Sir, Miss Goodgrave saved the lass’s life.” He went on to describe how he was roused by the stallion’s whinnies, and when he came to see what the matter was, he’d found Arhys taunting and lashing at the stallion with the carriage whip. Luke’s quarters were in the rear of the stable, and he and his boys had been trapped behind Raven, unable to reach Arhys.
“A blessing Miss Goodgrave came when she did,” Luke continued, “or Arhys would’ve been done for.”
“Is this true?” the professor asked of no one in particular.
“Liar! Big fat liar!” Arhys cried.
“It’s true,” the stable boys chorused in counterpoint. “We saw it.”
“I told you that horse was dangerous,” Mirriam said. “He almost killed Arhys.”
Enough anger had built in Karigan that she stepped toward Mirriam and pointed at her. “The horse was a danger to Arhys only because she put herself there. Any horse can be dangerous if it’s tormented enough.”
“Miss Goodgrave!” Mirriam snapped. “I—”
“Silence!” the professor bellowed. “Arhys, you’ve been a very naughty girl. Very foolish.”
“But you didn’t get me a horse! Why should she have one?”
“We will talk about this,” he said, “but right now, Mirriam is going to take you to your room and there you shall remain until I say so.”
“No!”
“Do as I say.”
Mirriam dragged the shrieking child away and ordered the servants back to the house. Luke and his lads returned to the stable, leaving Karigan alone with the professor.
“I am sorry, my dear.” He produced a fresh handkerchief and offered it to her.
She pressed it to her nose, but discovered the blood was already drying.
“Arhys is headstrong and spoiled, and I’m overprotective.”
“I’d—I’d best see to Raven.” She turned to go, but he touched her arm.
A tick pulsed in his cheek as though he struggled over what he wanted to say. “I need to thank you. I’m indebted to you. You not only saved the life of an innocent child—troublesome though she might be—but also that of the heir to the throne.”
Karigan was not sure she’d heard correctly. “Throne? What throne? The emperor’s?”
“No. As I told you, he assassinates all his offspring. No, Arhys is heir to the throne of Sacoridia. She is directly descended from the king you served, and his queen.”
AN EXCHANGE OF SECRETS
Karigan shook herself, not sure she’d heard him right. He had spoken barely above a whisper, though the yard was empty of potential eavesdroppers.
“That—” She was about to say “brat,” but caught herself in time. “Arhys is a direct . . . ? A descendent of . . . ?”
The professor nodded. The brightening morning revealed the seriousness etched into his features. “We, the opposition, have preserved the bloodline. It’s been so very dangerous. The heirs were always hunted by the emperor. The general belief is that the line was wiped out when a boy, who would have been Arhys’ uncle, was slain. We managed to keep his younger sister separate and safe, her identity hidden. Arhys’ mother. She died in childbirth, however.”
“So King Zachary and Estora . . .”
“Had a son. When Sacor City fell, the queen escaped with her son and went into hiding. They were hunted ceaselessly, and it is said only the queen’s courage kept them alive.”
Karigan wanted to sit down. This was one revelation too many on too little sleep.
“You should get inside,” the professor said, “warm up.”
“I’m not cold,” she replied, though she was, and had wrapped her arms around herself to ward off a chill. “Does Arhys know what she is?”
The professor gave a throaty chuckle. “Can you imagine what she’d be like if we told her she was to be queen?”
Karigan shuddered at the thought.
“No, for her safety, and ours, she will not know till she comes of age. So now, perhaps, you understand why I coddle her a little too much. I really must learn another approach—it would not do to have a spoiled brat on the throne.” He hesitated, then said, “I expect that you, as a Green Rider, will guard this secret with your life. You will, won’t you?” His tone was both pleading and tinged with the inherent threat that if she did not comply, her own existence was forfeit. The professor would protect his royal heir at whatever the cost, and no matter how much he might regret it.
Arhys was Zachary’s many-great granddaughter. How could Karigan not guard such a secret? Besides, she would never let harm befall the girl, no matter who she was, or how foolish. “You have my oath,” she replied, “as a royal messenger of the king.”
“Thank you.” He bowed formally and looked wistful. “I should have liked to have met your king, he who instills such loyalty. Now, perhaps we should go in?”
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214
- Page 215
- Page 216
- Page 217
- Page 218
- Page 219
- Page 220
- Page 221
- Page 222
- Page 223
- Page 224
- Page 225
- Page 226
- Page 227
- Page 228
- Page 229
- Page 230
- Page 231
- Page 232
- Page 233
- Page 234
- Page 235
- Page 236
- Page 237
- Page 238
- Page 239
- Page 240
- Page 241
- Page 242
- Page 243
- Page 244
- Page 245
- Page 246
- Page 247
- Page 248
- Page 249
- Page 250
- Page 251
- Page 252
- Page 253
- Page 254