Sinner by Sara Douglass. Book One of The Wayfarer Redemption

“I don’t understand,” Zenith said.

“Look!” Faraday cried, and pointed.

At first Zenith could see nothing beyond the scurrying people within the Maze, but then she saw that one entire section of the Maze had emptied. Emptied, save for a man running. He was frantic, casting his eyes over his shoulder, bouncing off walls in his terror, falling and scrambling to his feet in the one breath. He was bloodied and tattered, and it appeared that he had been fleeing a very long while.

“And there,” said Faraday softly.

Zenith again looked where she pointed. There were a group of horsemen, five or six, led by a man in dull black armour atop a great black horse. In his hand he wielded a massive sword.

Zenith felt nauseated. “Look, they are gaining on him.”

The hunting party were only a few bends away from their quarry now, and in the space of three breaths they had cornered him in a cul-de-sac.

The man fell to his knees, his hands outstretched, but whether in denial or pleading Zenith could not tell.

The black horseman spurred his mount on, reining it to an abrupt halt.

Then he waved his sword once about his head.

“DragonStar!” Zenith and Faraday heard the hapless victim call out, and then he said no more, for the horseman drove the blade through his chest, then again through his belly, and then the horseman was standing in his stirrups, screaming his victory, blood scattering in small drops about him as he waved his sword about.

“Tencendor is miner’ he screamed. “Tencendor is mine!”

“Drago?” whispered Zenith.

Faraday paused. “On the horse? Maybe, maybe not, but do not dwell on it, Zenith. All will be well.”

She took Zenith’s arm and urged her forward. “We’ll give the Maze a wide berth,” she said, “and we will be safe.”

Ik King of Ate Zared wandered slowly through the ancient Icarü palace of Carlon. After the Wars of the Axe this palace had been the home of generations of Kings of Achar. Here they had wived and sired their heirs. Here they had surveyed their kingdom, cast their decisions. Here they had conspired to keep the Forbidden – the Seneschal’s word for the Icarü and Avar – locked behind the Icescarp and Fortress Ranges.

Here once, but no more. Zared paused by the window of one of the chambers. Grail Lake lapped quietly under the chill morning sun. Today, the first day of Frost-month, would be his wedding day and his crowning day.

He smiled slightly, thinking of Leagh, and then his smile broadened as he thought of what the afternoon would bring. A circlet. A ring of office. A realm. Achar.

The circlet and ring were here in Carlon. Rivkah had kept them in Severin for many years, but in her old age had succumbed to sentimentality and had caused them to be held in a quiet and secretive storage here in Carlon. Their ancient home. Where they belonged.

And now here he was. His ancient home. Where he belonged. It felt so right. He may have stumbled to this point, but once here…

Zared turned back into the chamber. It was spectacular – far more so than in Priam’s or Borneheld’s day. Once Axis had gained control of Tencendor he’d caused the palace to be restored to its ancient Icarü splendour. Every chamber had a domed ceiling, enamelled in jewel-like colours, each dome sparkling with representations of stars or, as in this chamber, dancers drifting through the sky.

Zared strolled into the centre of the chamber, deep in thought. Once Icarü, then seized by the Kings of Achar as their own. Restored by the half Icarü, half human StarMan. Now… now back to the Acharite throne.

As Zared wandered, Leagh sat very still at her mirror table, looking at her reflection. From early morning her maids had laboured on her body, her face, her hair, her robes. Now here she sat, minutes from her wedding, and a few hours from a crowning.

She could not stop the lingering doubts. Oh, how she wished she had either Askam or Caelum to talk to, to ask advice from, to beg for forgiveness! She loved Zared, and she accepted that the… the Acharites (how clumsy that word sounded on her tongue and in her mind!) wanted him as their king. But was that necessarily right for Tencendor?

Should the throne be restored?

“Gods,” she whispered at her reflection. “What will Askam do when he discovers my actions? What will Caelum do?”

But it was too late. She now had no choice. She had promised Zared that she would accept the will of the people, and so she must.

“He has been honest with me,” she said, more firmly now, “and so I must be honest with him.”

And with that she rose.

“My Prince!” enthused Wilfred Parlender, Carton’s Prime Notary. “It is indeed an honour to be asked to officiate at the wedding of our Princess to the heir to the throne. Prince, know that Carlon wishes you well! Even now the streets are lined with revellers.”

Zared repressed a smile and fidgeted with his embroidered gloves. He felt uncomfortable in this finery, but a marriage such as this had to be observed with due formality.

He looked about him. Scores of people lined the walls of the Chamber of the Moons, but Leagh had not yet made her appearance. She was late. Why? Zared was struck by the horrible thought that she’d changed her mind and had fled the palace.

Back to Caelum? Zared’s fidgeting grew more noticeable. Where was Caelum? What was he thinking? Zared had expected some reaction from the StarSon before now – but nothing. Maybe Caelum had died in the explosion – no, that could not be. His fairy blood would have protected him, and there had not been a vengeful Axis to deal with.

Not yet.

“Peace, my Prince,” Gregoric Sandmeyer murmured in his ear. He stood slightly behind Zared, acting as chief witness. Behind Sandmeyer ranged sundry nobles, Theod and Herme chief among them, Master Goldman and his entire family, all the guild masters, their wives, and the most important craftsmen, businessmen, and notables of Carlon. Zared had requested their presence. He needed credible witnesses who could attest for ever afterwards that this was a legal marriage, with Leagh giving free and willing consent.

“Peace,” Sandmeyer said again. “The entire city of Carlon stands behind you, Zared.”

“Achar stands behind you, my Prince,” Goldman added. “The demonstration you saw in the streets yesterday is but a fraction of the support you enjoy throughout Achar. Every man, woman and toddling child will rally to your name. Do not fear.”

Zared was about to answer when there was a rustle at the door, and the servant standing there nodded to Parlender.

“She arrives!” Parlender said breathlessly, his chubby face perspiring from high excitement.

Leagh entered the room, splendid in gold and rose, and Zared loved her for wearing his colours. Her eyes sought his, and she smiled at him sweetly.

Zared smiled back, and held out his hand. It will all be well, he thought as she walked towards him. It will be.

“Zared,” she murmured as she joined him, and dropped her eyes demurely, although a smile remained on her lips.

“My Lady,” he said, “you are more beautiful than the sunrise.”

She blushed at the flattery, but accepted it anyway. There were many in the room more beautiful than she, but a woman was allowed to believe any fantasy she liked on her wedding day.

“Ahem.” Parlender cleared his throat. “My Prince, Princess, would you like me to begin?”

Zared lifted his eyes, smiled, and nodded.

Leagh thought the rite the most beautiful she had ever witnessed, let alone participated in. Zared stood by her side, so striking she thought she would never be able to catch her breath again, so sure, so confident, speaking the vows with a measured yet potent voice. She knew that many people crowded the Chamber of the Moons, but she was aware only of Zared and the lesser presence of Prime Notary Parlender.

Leagh had not thought to be this entranced. She had been so uncertain this morning, but the instant she had seen Zared standing, waiting for her, all her doubts had vanished. The sun shone so bright, the waters of Grail Lake sung to her from the open window, and the brief glimpse of joyful Carlonese crowding the streets made her heart swell with happiness.

It will all be well, she thought, it truly will. She would enjoy being Zared’s wife, raising their children, growing old and contented with him. Zared’s parents had been deeply in love, and Leagh was beginning to hope that she and Zared would also enjoy that depth of love and commitment.

It will all be well.

Zared had spoken his vows, and now he turned to her. He held her hands, and his eyes smiled at her, and Leagh knew that everything would be glorious, and that the small sadnesses and irritations that struck every marriage would hardly dim the happiness of their union.