Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1)

King Rodrig’s chambers were full of my mother’s paintings. She made those for my late father, because he spent so much time inside, she claimed he should at least look at painted landscapes. Sunshine cast its rays on the floor, the huge table laden with quills and scrolls and the bookshelf behind it. I let out a sigh; the room reminded me of my parents too much, I couldn’t fathom how Rodrig bore staying in this room.

Rodrig sat in his leather chair, a sombre expression making him look far older than twenty-three. Across, in the regular wooden chair, sat Sir Danilo of Danth, way too big for the small seat.

I curtsied because I was a lady, “You called for me?”

“Sit.” Rodrig commanded.

I grabbed the wooden chair and scooted way too close to Danilo of Danth, who eyed me with such impertinence I had to let out a short laugh, just to throw him off his game. How unaware he was of the fact he would eventually fall desperately in love with me.

“Irina, I’m assuming you’ve already learned this, but the heir of Irenwell has been called forth regarding the Irenwell debt.” Rodrig’s eyes met mine; he did not like this one bit.

I shrugged, “A little birdie told me someone has to go to forgotten lands of Orathia.”

Danilo of Danth cleared his throat, “Your Grace, it is of utmost importance that an heir of Irenwell joins us on this journey. Oracles have spoken.”

“Seriously, does anyone ever reveal what the Oracles have spoken?” I rolled my eyes, earning a serious look from Rodrig. That wayward wrinkle settled between his orange brows forever, it seemed.

“Oracles are not to be mocked.” Danilo said.

“Oracles wish they were still important.” I challenged him.

Danilo’s jaw clenched, “Your Grace, the warnings should not be ignored.”

Rodrig’s eyes danced between me and Danilo, as if he were trying to make sense of the banter, “Tell us about the journey, Sir Danilo.”

Danilo nodded, his eyes reluctantly leaving mine, “It is now the beginning of spring, we are counting on reaching Orathia just before summer starts. Presuming we manage that, we should return by the end of the season.” He took in a breath. “We simply must go now. Winters in the distant north are far too hostile and the journey cannot wait till next summer.”

Rodrig’s eyes fell on his desk and the map on it. Sitting like that, with his head bowed, he resembled our father quite a bit. And the resemblance wasn’t merely physical; he was his father’s son in every way. Right now, he was even thinking like our father, taking in every possible variable and evaluating the outcome.

And because I was my mother’s daughter, I nudged his thoughts in my own preferred direction, “You would be gone half a year.” I turned to Danilo. “And is King Bernard going?”

My question was certainly a shot in the dark, but I guessed right, because Danilo shook his head, “Bastia is under too much threat from the towns on the eastern coast. King Bernard cannot currently leave the Kingdom alone.”

And neither could Rodrig. Bastia might have been attacked from all sides, but as much as I gathered, the Kingdom in itself was stable, unlike Irenwell. The threat here came from within.

“Hmm,” I hummed, “It’s a good thing we aren’t on the brink of war, then. I suppose Irenwell folk might be better rulers after all.”

Danilo’s eyebrows furrowed, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from answering, “Kingdom of Bastia is strong even under enemy threat. Irenwell is only strong when there is no enemy threat.”

Rodrig’s eyes snapped at the knight and Danilo’s eyes immediately widened, “I apologize, your Grace. What I mean to say is that Bastia is simply strong enough to handle their wars.”

I pouted, pretending to be offended, “I assure you, Sir Danilo, Irenwell is strong enough to thrive in the absence of the King.”

And I knew Rodrig would see the sentence for the lie that it was.

He let out a sigh, “Let us hope that Irenwell is strong enough to handle my absence.”

I leaned against the chair, ready to play dumb, “What’s there to handle? A banquet here and there, an occasional ball and a couple of meetings.”

Danilo and Rodrig both looked at me, a comically terrifying glint in their eyes.

“Your Grace,” Danilo cleared his throat, “ruling is a bit more complicated than that.”

“Why?” I asked. “It’s not like there’s a war starting anywhere. And if it were, I am certain there are people around here who know what to do.”

Because weak kingdoms thrived once their king left. There was no way everything would fall apart if said king left his kingdom to his little sister.

Rodrig leaned against his hands, “How much time do I have?”

“I’m afraid we have to go momentarily, your Grace.” Danilo breathed. “There are many things that need to be done.”

“So,” I cut in, “all you have to do is get there, pour some blood over some stupid lock, and return, right?”

Danilo frowned, “Well, the trip is quite dangerous. For once, we have to cross the Frozen Sea which is known to be filled with-”

“But, I assume you have a plan?” I interrupted before he said something that might frighten my brother.

Rodrig had to believe getting to Orathia and back was a more feasible endeavour than ruling the Kingdom. He had to think sending his little sister to Orathia was smarter than leaving her in charge of the throne.

Danilo nodded, “Of course, we have a plan. The most capable men in the known world are joining us on this journey. Including me.”

Rodrig cocked his head, “And do you have a guide?”

“We do.” Danilo’s tone shifted; a first unsuppressed emotion gripped his features, bitterness.

So, naturally, I decided to poke around, “Who?”

My brother cut me off, “No man has been to Orathia and returned alive in the past fifty years.”

Danilo lifted his head, “He’s no man.”

“Ominous.” I chuckled.

Rodrig seemed to be deep in thought. His eyelids dropped, hiding his gaze. He played with the quill in his right hand, he gripped it, then spun it around, and eventually dropped it.

I turned to Danilo, “Where are you going to sleep during the journey?”

“There are a couple of towns along the way. I am certain they will offer us shelter if need be.” Danilo said.

I let out a short laugh, “Well, I hope your world’s most capable men are carrying their wits and charm with them, because no one will let you in if they so much as assume you are a threat.”

A certain charming princess would be a great addition to their brooding squad, but I did not say that out loud. They should work it out on their own.

Convincing others to do what you want worked best if they believed it was their idea in the first place.

Danilo tried to joke, “Perhaps you should educate my men on good manners, then.”

“Perhaps I should.” I shrugged. “But lessons are long and you simply haven’t that much time.”

Rodrig finally spoke, “If there was a way to postpone the trip till next summer...”

Danilo did what some never dared to do to a King. He interrupted.

“Your Grace, it is high time. The only reason we haven’t gone already is the unapproachability of Orathia during winter.”

My head snapped at him, “Does the rest of the world undermine my brother’s authority so much you think you’re allowed to interrupt him?”

Rodrig looked at me, “Sir Danilo, may I have a moment alone with the Princess?”

Danilo got up, “Certainly, your Grace.” His head slightly bowed and he left the room.

His footsteps echoed away. Once he was certain Danilo was gone, Rodrig leaned against his seat and let out a defeated sigh.

I raised my eyebrow, “You’re in way over your head.”

“What do I do?” Rodrig closed his eyes and bumped his head against the backrest. “I can’t leave the Kingdom alone. Lords of Inse and Iqua have been eyeing the throne ever since father died.”

I leaned against my elbows, “Half a year isn’t that long. I am certain the Kingdom will be fine.”

Rodrig shook his head, “It won’t. Nobody takes us seriously anymore. And if I leave the throne to you, no offence, it will all fall apart.”

To cement his thoughts, I shrugged, “Doesn’t seem that difficult to rule to me.”

Rodrig took in a sharp breath, “Your attitude concludes it, I cannot leave the Kingdom and I cannot let the Irenwell debt go unpaid.”

“Father would be disappointed if the Kingdom fell apart.” I added. “But mother would be disappointed if you missed out on the chance to save the world.”

Rodrig eyed me, “You’re rubbing salt in my wound.”

“No, I’m simply telling it like it is.” I said. “But, fortunately for you, I took it upon myself not to disappoint our mother.”

Rodrig cocked his head, “What do you mean?”

“You should stay here and rule.”

“I can’t be in two places at once.” Rodrig’s fingers pushed the middle of his forehead, a wince falling off his lips. “If I stay here, who is going to deliver on the Irenwell debt?”

“I am.”

A scattered laugh bubbled on his lips, first quiet, then louder and at the end, completely flabbergasted. I scoffed and crossed my legs, oh, so glad to be regarded as a fool.

Rodrig’s laugh didn’t waver, but he covered it up with a cough, “You believe you can go to Orathia? Irina, you’re an untrained princess and that journey is incredibly dangerous. For Goddess’ sake, if it rains outside, you get offended.”

I kept my expression flat. Some people were easy to fool, servants, maids, squires, but it was no easy endeavour to fool a King.

“You are not the only who doesn’t want to disappoint our parents.” My voice remained even, but Rodrig’s smile entirely ceased.

“Mother would say saving the world is more important than saving the Kingdom.” Rodrig’s eyes fell on the map.

“Exactly.” I took in a breath. “And what’s the use of having multiple children if they cannot perform multiple tasks for you?”

The corners of Rodrig’s lips lifted.

“Stay here and rule.” I said. “And I will go to Orathia and deliver the Irenwell debt.”

But Rodrig was clever. Inexperienced in ruling, sure, but he was far too clever for his own good. His eyes narrowed, that famous wrinkle between his brows grew watchful.

“Why do you want to go to Orathia?”

I shrugged, “I told you.”

Rodrig’s wrinkle deepened, “To make mother happy? No, no, you don’t do anything without an agenda.”

“Not true,” I puffed, “I do lots of things without an agenda.”

I did his squire without an agenda.

Rodrig sighed, “Don’t you think I’d be disappointing mother greatly if I let her only daughter go to the world’s end to fetch an artefact last seen five hundred years ago?”

“She’d be more disappointed if she learned I did nothing.” I said. “Listen, Rodrig, there is no other choice. You have to stay and rule. Ira is too young. I am the only one that’s left.”

Rodrig shook his head, “The trip is too dangerous.”

“And you and I both know I’ll do better there than ruling the Kingdom while you’re gone.”

This shut him up. He knew my words were true. My mother never taught me anything about politics or how to govern a kingdom. She had falsely thought my father would rule for at least thirty more years and my, by then mature and wise, brother would continue in his stead.

Unfortunately for her, life loved irony.

Rodrig finally spoke, “I’ll have to consult Bobrich.”

This was my cue to leave, “Fine. But hurry up. Who knows what other agendas I might have on my mind?”

“Irina-”

I interrupted him with a chuckle, “Do not worry, dear brother. I’m as innocent as they come.”

With a smile, I left his chambers, pretty satisfied with how this conversation turned out. In the hallway, I ran into Danilo, lingering not far from Rodrig’s chambers, possibly waiting to be summoned.

The moment he saw me, he bowed his head, “Your Grace.”

“Sir Danilo,” I smiled, “it seems like you and I might be seeing more of each other.”

“Excuse me, your Grace?”

I put my hands on my hips, “You are going to Orathia as the heir of Bastia, are you not? Instead of King Bernard.”

Danilo pulled back slightly, like he had not expected this detail to be so widely known, “I am, your Grace.”

I smiled coyly, “Princess of Irenwell and heir of Bastia. Sounds like we could have some fun together.”

Danilo coughed, “Has King Rodrig mentioned anything?”

And just because I was feeling manipulative, I put the words in my brother’s mouth, “King Rodrig is well aware ties between our Kingdoms need to be tightened.” I walked past the knight. “We just might be seeing a lot more of each other.”