Kingsbane

Chapter 21

     Siofra blinked slowly, Blair's gentle humming bringing her from the dark and silent contentment of her sleep. The sun was shining through the window, pooling in a bright mass across her feet and birds sang happily outside in the courtyard below. It seemed the wildfire had done little to dampen their spirits.
    "My Lady," Blair smiled wide, turning from the tidying up she'd been doing. "I'm glad you're awake. Did you sleep well?"
    Sio sat up feeling well-rested and almost giddy. She hadn't woken in such a good mood in years. Perhaps it was a good sign. "Yes." She replied, smoothing her hair. "What time is it?"
    "Well past noon."
    "I see." Getting up, she went to the window and leaned out. A few guards greeted her from below and she found herself smiling and waving gladly in return. What was this feeling? This feeling of overwhelming excitement? Even looking out on the charred remains of Unseelie did nothing to darken her mood.
    "Those must have been some good dreams." Blair commented, bringing her a dress.
    "Let's try the pants and blouse today." She suggested instead, taking the dress and practically dancing back to her wardrobe, trading it for a pair of dark trousers and a white ruffled shirt. "And we can leave my hair down. It's a comfortable sort of day, don't you think?"
    "What has gotten into you?" Blair laughed, "Have you finally come to terms with the ceremony, then?"
    "I-" Her face fell, but only for a moment. For some reason, the upcoming inevitability of conception did not disgust her anymore. "I guess I have."
    "I'm sure the King will be glad to hear that."
    "Have you seen him?" She inquired, eager to find him and see if he too had been stricken with this ceaseless good temper.
    "No. But he's probably in the garden. Isn't that where he always sits?"
    Siofra gave Blair a confused look, but said nothing. Siva didn't like the garden. In fact, he rarely went there unless he was looking for her. Strange. Still, the oddity if it didn't harm her happiness and she left the room without brushing her hair. She greeted anyone she passed on her way toward the gardens but did not stop until she'd gotten there.
    Siva sat on the stone bench in it's center, his back to her. It didn't seem quite right. His shoulders seemed broader, and his hair was long and tied back. Though a crown sat upon his head, and royal finery adorned him, this was not her king.
    "Excuse me?" She breathed, looking around for the guards. They weren't there. "Sverre?"
    The man turned to look at her, his blue eyes glittering and his smile bright. "Siofra, I was waiting for you."
    It was just a dream. It had to be. A black hole opened in her chest, sucking her heart into it's cruel, cold depths. "What are you tormenting me like his?" She snapped, backing away as he rose and approached, arms open. "If you want me to be with Siva, why continue to tease me with him!"
    She was crying out at Faery, yet Sverre answered.
    "Your soul doesn't call out for my brother, Sio. You can not be happy with him." He sighed, pulling her into his embrace. "You belong in my arms."
    "Sverre." Burying her face in his chest, she gave herself up to the fantasy her subconscious had woven for her. The moment she accepted he wasn't real, however, she began to smell smoke. When she looked up, she cried out in horror.
    "What is it?" He inquired, his pale flesh burning like paper embers. He reached out for her with fingers quickly turning to ash. "Siofra?"
    "Are you dead?" She whimpered. "Is this just a nightmare? Or a vision? I can't tell. Please, answer me."
    "He lives." He replied.
    "What?"
    The wind blew and her lover blew away with it, ashes dancing across the blue sky.
    She woke again. The sun was shining through the window, pooling in a bright mass across her feet and birds sang happily outside in the courtyard below. It seemed the wildfire had done little to dampen their spirits. She could not say the same for her own.
    Unlike her dream, Blair was not with her. Instead, Siva sat at the end of her bed.  "Did you sleep well?" He inquired softly, in a hoarse, tired voice.
    "Well enough." She responded, anxiety creeping into her stomach. "You're pale. Are you not feeling well? Has something happened?"
    "I found my Bane a few days before returning here." He breathed, closing his eyes. "His name is Grayson. He has an illness that causes his body to turn against itself. He doesn't have long to live."
    "Oh, Siva, I'm sorry." She whispered, throwing back her blankets and going to sit beside him. "Were you able to make him comfortable before leaving him?"
    Her words broke him. The guilt was unbearable. He put his head in his hands and tried to fight the sorrow back long enough for him to finish speaking. "I wanted to bring him to Avalbane." He struggled on, "So, I begged Sverre to bring him across for me, using the Goblin's illegal circle."
    "You did what?"
    "I forced Rafferty and Sverre to help me bring Grayson here, but-"
    "Are you saying there's a human in Faery?" She interjected.
    "No."
    "Siva, what have you done?"
    "I've killed my brother. Sverre's dead." He bit his lip to stop the sob. The despair was so all-encompassing that he could hardly stay upright. "We found his sword among the ashes of the Goblin camp. Whether he was killed before or after he went for Grayson, I don't know. There were so many bones, there isn't any way to distinguish between them." He took a ragged breath, his chest shuddering. "I should never have asked him to do it. I was just so desperate to save Grayson. I've never been so mad about anyone in my life. I let my passion get the best of me."
    Siofra gently rose and made her way to the window. As she gazed out toward Unseelie, she twisted Sverre's ring around her finger. Siva watched her, waiting for his fate to be decided. Her face was stone, giving nothing away. "What would you have me do?" She inquired after a long, devouring silence.
    "I don't know." He admitted. "I'm sure Faery will know a suitable punishment."
    "It is not Faery's place to punish. I am the hand of justice here. The land gives. I take. That is the way it is, Siva." Glancing over her shoulder at him momentarily, she sighed. "So, I am asking you, what do you want me to do?"
    "Punish me however you see fit."
    "Get on your knees." The demand came in whisper, but blew through him like a rain of arrows. Despite his growing apprehension, he did as she asked. What had he expected? He'd not only committed treason, but also killed the Queen's very soul. Whatever she has in store for him, he certainly deserved.
    He closed his eyes as she came to stand in front of him. Before he could wonder what she was planning, there was a loud thwack, his face was thrown to the side, and his cheek began to burn. And then she was on the floor with him, her arms wrapped around his neck. It was a behavior so reminiscent of Sverre that it put tears back in his eyes.
    "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" She growled. "You silly fool."
    "Sio? What are you doing?"
    "We can not afford animosity between us. We owe this kingdom an heir. It doesn't matter what you've done, I don't have time to find a new husband." Pulling back, she lifted his chin and inspected the damage her hand had left.
    "But I got Sverre killed." He breathed incredulously.
    "He's not dead. I would know it if he were. And if he's not in Unseelie, then he is probably well on his way to your sister's." She smiled, the mischievous look in her eyes making him nervous. "If he's headed for Avalbane's then he has your Grayson with him."
    "That's all just conjecture." The protest was feeble, weakened by the spark of hope her optimism had put back in his heart.
    "Faery is up to something." She assured him. "We will just have to play our parts and be patient."
    There was a light tap on the door and then Blair entered, tray in her hands. She stopped mid-step when she saw them. "Getting a head start, are we?"
    "That is inappropriate." Siofra blushed, rising and quickly busying herself clearing a place on her night table for the food the woman had brought her. "Siva was simply having a meltdown."
    "I see." Blair curtsied to him. "The taylor's been looking for you. You still need your uniform fitted."    
    "Thank you." He mumbled, exiting the room with an ungraceful haste.