Maji Born

29 - The Dowager's Informant

"Are you certain?" Elidain Tazarine asked. She gazed down at the city below from the window of her youngest daughters abandoned room. Her long taloned nails digging into the wooden window frame.

"I'm positive. If you need proof she paid me with this."

Elidain turned to face the speaker. The man had one milky eye and scars across his cheeks. Today his long red hair was tightly braided down his back and his beard had been neatly trimmed. He took a step forward and held out a small silver ring.

Elidain strode towards him and snatched it out of his weathered hand, bringing it closer for inspection.

"Where did you take them," she asked. Flipping the ring over in her hand.

"Zedar," Icurus Bane said. Elidain tisked loudly.

"Lavinia has always been a thorn in my side. She is blind, how has she managed to evade our people? "she asked.

"She was travelling with companions," Icurus said.

"Thank you, Captain. Your information has been very beneficial. I will pay you for any further information you can provide in future."

Elidain dismissed him with a wave of her angular hand. She did not offer the ring back and he did not ask for it. Icurus left without a word, shutting the door behind him.

Elidain watched him leave and heaved a deep sighed. Lavinia was more trouble than she was worth. Orell had convinced her to keep her when she had been born with majik. Elidain had immediately handed her over to a wet nurse and had spent as little time with her as possible.

Elidain picked up the horsehair brush on Lavinia's dressing table, long white-blonde hair was matted to the bristles. Elidain inspected it. If only Jethra had received her younger daughters looks. Jethra had the misfortune of being rotund and born with freckles. She was mousy with dirty blonde hair.

Her youngest, Lavinia, she had to admit, was a beauty. She had inherited the white blonde hair and high cheekbones of Elidian's heritage. If only she had been born normal.

After a few minutes, Elidain turned away from her daughter's room and strode out. She made her way down the marble staircase to her son's chambers.

When she reached them she entered without hesitation, not bothering to knock.

King Radek sat by the fire in his dressing gown reading a scroll of parchment. He looked up in surprise at the slam of his bedroom door. Elidain strode to his side and placed the ring on the side table.

"Lavinia has reached the Belestine girl. I have it on good authority that she crossed to Zedar."

Radek picked up the ring and turned it over.

"The Belestine girl will try to take your throne," Elidain said. She appraised her son with heavy-lidded eyes.

"We need to double the guards within the castle ground and about your person." Worry creased Elidain's brow.

"Let her. She has no power here," Radek said, he stood and moved to stand by the fire. "Lavinia is not a threat and this girl is young and untried. She's making a desperate play for a throne she had no hope in possessing."

"She has the Ardaer Stone as well," Elidain reminded him. "She has more power than you think. We shouldn't underestimate her abilities. She is a Belestine after all." Elidain took back the ring from Radek. He turned back to his scroll and gestured at it.

"I'm receiving reports from Diok. They've join Zedar in a trade embargo against us. Do you think this girl is responsible?"

Elidain grabbed the scroll from her son and skimmed the handwriting document.

"There hasn't been a trade embargo in Midais for over ten years."

There was silence for a few minutes and then Elidian said, "Write back to them and double our exportation of lumber and wool."

Radek nodded and retrieved the scroll from his mother.

"I'll do just that," he said, "Mother be assured that I have everything under control there is nothing you need worry about."

Radek rested a hand on his mother's shoulder and guided her to the door. It was a clear dismissal. Elidain headed swiftly for her chambers, she needed to send letters to all her spies and the guilds she had sway over. They would send news when they saw the Belestine girl.