Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home (TCoLaD Book 2)

Death

~ Siwenday, 21st of Juvenis, 11831 ~

Sabine slept in late the next morning. There was a plate of food on her dresser when she woke, but she had not heard anyone enter. When she tried the door, it was still locked. It took a bit of time but she changed out of her nightgown into somewhat casual clothes, unable to put on the more formal attire without a maid, and not wishing to call for help. She was not sure if it would come.

Aranea was there, having not left the room last night, staying hidden when anyone other than her mistress was in the room.

She sat down to break her fast, offering a bit of egg and a piece of meat to her familiar. They ate in silence.

Halfway through her meal there was a pounding on her door, some muffle shouts, and then Vivien came in with guards behind him. He was still wearing the clothes he had on last night, wrinkled and unwashed, and there were bags under his eyes. She doubted he had slept a moment.

"She is my mother. I do not need you. Be gone," he commanded, and the guards hesitated as Sabine stood up to greet Vivien, but a glare from her son sent them out. He closed the door behind them and hugged his mother.

He was shaking. He held her so tight that it almost hurt, but she did not reprimand him.

"You were right," she said, stroking his hair as if he were still a child and not a grown man with children of his own. "In the end, this will be the death of me."

"We do not know that!" Vivien countered. "We can sneak you out! Elwin can take you to Faery. I spoke with His Grace at length last night, and we can—"

"Vivien, you know as well as I that that will not be possible. Such a thing would only interfere more with alliances and cause a stain to Pierre's reputation. I will take my sentence."

"Maman..."

He let himself cry.

Sabine hummed to him a lullaby he had loved as a child and kissed his hair.

"My dear sweet son, I have lived my life. I knew I would be with your father again soon. I could not stand there and let you be taken when I could save you. You have children, and I know you would die for them."

"I would die for you."

"Shame! And leave your wife, your children? I am old, Vivien, and however tragic, a child buries his parents, not the other way around. This is far better than if you had taken the blame."

He nodded and took a deep breath, calming down, but not letting her go. "Oui, I know, Maman... The children wish to see you. They know something has happened. Maiolaine is taking them to Bladeren in a few hours, but they insist on seeing you before they go. I do not want them to witness the trial." Or her death.

"Bring them in."

Her daughter-in-law and grandchildren came in. Maiolaine seemed wary, but trusted her husband when he nodded to her. The children were ignorant and only wanted to tell their grandmother that they were going on a trip to see their other grandparents. Sabine smiled.

***

Pierre came to see her after her family left. The duc glared at his guards when they came in with him. Like Vivien he did not allow them to stay, reminding them that just a few weeks ago he had been harmed by cold iron, and if they truly wanted to make up for that and show their new allegiance, they could do it by obeying him.

"Why?" he asked her when they were alone.

"I did it for Vivien," she replied. "Who, in turn, would have done the same for you, Your Grace. Was going to. Did you not feel the spirits around him as he reached for the knife before you?"