The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)(15)

Trynne had feared as much. Her mother’s visions had been bereft of glimpses of her husband, which had made all of them fear the worst.

“Thank you, Thierry. I would see her at once.”

“Very well, my lady. She is with Lady Morwenna at the moment.”

The news was like a blow to Trynne’s heart. Morwenna had been in training as a Wizr’s disciple since the Battle of Guilme. Originally, Trynne had been her mother’s only student, but she had abandoned her studies in favor of training the Oath Maidens with Captain Staeli.

The daughter of Severn Argentine and Lady Kathryn, Morwenna was the king’s blood-sister. She had an aptitude for Fountain magic and had demonstrated a quickness of mind in finding words of power hidden inside The Vulgate, an ancient text of legends about the famous King Andrew and his court. When she was studying the tome, Trynne had always found her mind wandering to the training yard and affairs of state. She was happier since she’d quit her Wizr training, but Morwenna’s stunning beauty and multiple gifts had always made her feel self-conscious.

As they walked toward the study, Thierry kept up a steady stream of chatter. “There was a great shipwreck off the coast of Occitania in the last fortnight. A merchant ship, heavily laden, crashed against the reef and was destroyed. Bits of its cargo have been washing up on our shores for days since then and as far east as St. Penryn’s.”

“Were there any survivors?” Trynne asked without much hope.

“None, my lady. The manifest showed it was a Genevese merchant vessel. The crew all drowned.”

“I’m so sorry to hear it,” Trynne sighed. “What is the latest news about the Gauntlet coming up in Kingfountain?”

“They say the Grand Duke of Brugia and Duke of North Cumbria are favorites to win it. Wouldn’t it be a trick if some lass beat them both?” He gave her a cunning smile and a wink.

Trynne had been training hard for it. She shrugged her shoulders, trying to look unconcerned.

“Let me announce you,” Thierry said as they reached the door. He lifted his hand to knock.

Trynne caught his sleeve. “There’s no need. I’d rather surprise her. Thank you.”

Thierry nodded, bowed to her, and departed. Trynne stared at the polished wood, trying to gather her courage and resolve. Whenever Sinia traveled to Kingfountain, Trynne stayed in Ploemeur to await her return. If the stay ended up being longer than a few days, her mother would likely fetch her brother, Gannon, from Tatton Hall. He had been staying there, off and on, with their grandparents since being declared the Duke of Westmarch in their father’s absence, but Sinia brought him home to Ploemeur for frequent visits. The child was a favorite with the palace staff, and Trynne found herself missing him when he wasn’t around. She occasionally used the ley lines to visit him, but it wasn’t the same as living together.

Gripping the handle, she turned it quietly and pushed open the door to the study. Just like the rest of the house, the room was achingly familiar. The walls were lined with bookshelves laden with dusty books, and the desk in the corner was covered in globes and charts. Trynne found Morwenna sitting there, scrawling on a rough piece of parchment covered in sketches of the diagonal spokes of ley lines. She appeared to be copying something from another map, and Trynne’s stomach twisted with worry. Her mother’s book of maps was a secret they hadn’t shared with anyone.

Sinia sat at the window seat. The window was open and her golden hair rustled as the breeze wafted in. Her hand rested on the casement, her fingers limp. Her gaze was fixed on the endless sea on the horizon, and she did not seem to have noticed the sound of the door.

Morwenna lifted her head and turned. For a moment, there was a look of shocked surprise in her eyes. Almost a guilty look, as if she’d been caught stealing treats.

It was gone in an instant. Morwenna rose from the chair and quickly came to Trynne, embracing her briefly before pulling back.

“Has something happened?” she whispered, her brow furrowed with concern.

Trynne shook her head. “Nothing like that. The king wishes to see my mother.”

Morwenna nodded. “That is no surprise. So she will be gone for a few days?”

“Probably,” Trynne said. “What are you working on?” she asked, trying not to let any concern filter into her voice.

“Oh, that,” Morwenna said, gesturing toward the maps on the table. “One of Lord Amrein’s men managed to steal a map book from a treasure ship,” she said. “It’s all a great secret, but I can tell you. They already had the royal cartographers look at it. It goes far beyond anything we have seen in the past. Trynne, there’s a map to the Forbidden Court. I’ve been trying to connect it to the ones we already have. As you know, the original capital of Chandigarl was on the east-west ley line. The Forbidden Court is farther north, off the main line.”

“You’ve been to the Forbidden Court already,” Trynne said.

Morwenna nodded. “Yes, but only through the ley lines. I haven’t known where it was. This is a major clue to locating it.”

“Have you heard of Chandleer Oasis?” Trynne asked. The two young women went to the map. Trynne glanced back at her mother, but Sinia was still staring fixedly at the sea.

“It’s right here,” Morwenna said, pointing to a spot on the map amidst the huge desert. “It’s part of the spice trade.”