Claudio glared at him. "You committed murder!"

"Be careful how you define murder, my lord," he warned. "If killing heretics is murder, then the Shadowdancers-consecrated members of your Church-have more to answer for than I do."

Claudio must have realized he was stepping onto dangerous ground so he backtracked hurriedly.

"You destroyed the Calliope."

"Reithan Seranov burned the Calliope, my lord, a fact that any number of the Lion of Senet's men can attest to. They were pursuing me across Elcast Common at the time the ship caught fire."

Antonov nodded in agreement. "Did you have anything to do with it at all, Dirk?"

"I asked Reithan Seranov to create a diversion, your highness. He took me literally."

The Lion of Senet smiled briefly, and Jacinta realized Dirk had a powerful ally. Antonov was still on his side. No doubt he liked the idea of Johan Thorn's b.a.s.t.a.r.d being the Lord of the Suns. It suited his ambition much better this way.

"And how do you intend to wriggle out of the charge of rape?" Claudio asked, paying his trump card with an edge of desperation.

"There is no charge, my lord."

Dirk's eyes sought out Marqel standing beside Antonov. She was staring at him thoughtfully. Now what's she got to do with it? Jacinta wondered curiously.

Claudio also turned to look at Marqel. "My lady?"

Marqel hesitated for a very long time before she answered. "The Lord of the Suns is right, my lord.

There is no charge."

Jacinta almost fainted with relief. Marqel must be enjoying her role as Antonov's mistress too much to endanger her position by helping Claudio Varell unseat the man who had put her there.

At that point, Claudio realized he'd lost the fight, but Jacinta knew the battle was far from over. That he had voiced his doubts publicly was enough to disturb even the staunchest supporters of the Church.

There was a tense moment of silence and then a slight disturbance to Jacinta's left.A red-robed Shadowdancer stepped forward.

"I can also show cause," the woman announced.

"Lady Madalan Tirov," Claudio replied, vastly relieved. "You are the right hand of the High Priestess. You will be heard!"

"I bid you show cause or step back and be silent," Antonov suggested with an edge of impatience.

"Dirk Provin cannot be appointed Lord of the Suns," Madalan announced. "He's not come of age yet. This boy is just that-a boy. He is only nineteen years old. Under Senetian law he cannot be considered an adult until he reaches the age of twenty. He doesn't come of age until after Landfall.

Regardless of the will of the late Lord Halyn, we cannot legally appoint him Lord of the Suns."

"The Lady Madalan speaks truly," Claudio agreed so quickly Jacinta suspected it was rehea.r.s.ed.

She glanced up at Dirk but his expression still betrayed nothing. He must be shocked, she thought. Had he overlooked such a minor but important detail? Like everyone else in the temple, she held her breath, waiting for somebody to explain what happened now.

Finally the Lion of Senet stepped forward. Although this was Church business, and strictly speaking he had no power here, n.o.body chose to challenge him when he took charge.

"I believe this needs to be cleared up before the ceremony proceeds," he declared. "I suggest an adjournment of one hour. We will reconvene then and continue... one way or the other."

Jacinta didn't wait around to find out what would happen next. She pushed and shoved her way back through the crowd until she reached the doors and then ran outside. She hailed the driver she'd hired for the day as she ran down the steps and ordered him to bring her carriage up, catching her escort off guard. As soon as it arrived, she climbed in and ordered the driver to move off.

Tael Gordonov countermanded the order and jerked the carriage door open.

"Lady Jacinta? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing at all, Captain. Please close the door."

"Back to the Widow's Rest, my lady?" the driver asked.

"No," she told him. "I don't want to go back to the inn. Take me to the library."

Tael looked at her in alarm. "The library, my lady?"

"They do have a library in Bollow, don't they?"

"Yes, of course, my lady! It's just..."

"Just what?"

"Well, it's not the sort of place one expects to find a lady..."

Jacinta muttered a very unladylike curse under her breath. "Just get me there!"

Tael shook his head and closed the carriage door as she commanded. "As you wish, my lady."

Chapter 45.

The difference in himself being free of the poppy-dust astounded Misha at first. Having lived most of his life in the cycle of high awareness followed by the savage letdown of the drug, to awaken each morning and know by the end of the day he would not be trembling and nauseous filled him with a senseof elation he found hard to describe. There were times when he could feel his body calling for the drug, but for now, at least, it was easy to refuse. He was too enamored of the unusual feeling of well-being to give in to it.

Lexie's arrival with Reithan did much to distract him, and the news she brought about what had happened in Mil did nothing but strengthen his suspicion Dirk was playing his own dangerous game, a game in which only he seemed to understand the rules. Tia was adamant he was simply a traitor. Misha was privately of the opinion it didn't matter what Dirk did, she would always think that of him.

Although it was wearing at times, Misha didn't mind Tia's prejudice. That she and Dirk had been lovers for a short time was no longer a secret between them. What Misha wanted to be sure of, what he hoped for beyond reason, was that she was over him; that the unreasonable hatred she had for Dirk Provin was not simply her way of covering up her true feelings. The expectation she had awoken in Misha that day she kissed him was more powerful than a dose of poppy-dust. Every time he closed his eyes, he could feel her lips on his. Unfortunately, every time he opened them again, he recalled the look of shock and despair she had worn afterward.

With Reithan and Lexie here in Garwenfield, there was little chance to speak to Tia alone. Lexie had been unaware of what was happening in Senet while in transit with Reithan on the Wanderer, so once everyone had been brought up to date, much of their discussion centered on what their next move should be. Tia wanted to go straight back to Bollow and put an arrow though Dirk's forehead herself.

Reithan counseled caution, suggesting they wait until the eclipse before taking any action. Lexie wanted to keep Mellie hidden and Misha wanted to return to Avacas to see his father and do something about removing Ella Geon from her position of trust in the palace. They talked around and around, but the decision was not an easy one and a week after Lexie and Reithan had sailed into Garwenfield, they still hadn't decided what to do.

Tia avoided his eye as they sat around the kitchen table, and found any number of excuses not to be alone with him. Mellie seemed never to leave her side, or she was with Reithan, or Lexie. He knew Tia was avoiding him. He also suspected Tia knew he knew it. But he could do nothing to force the situation. To push Tia now might be to lose her forever, and that was something he didn't even want to contemplate. So he waited, took long walks on the beach in the soft sand near the tree line to strengthen his legs and hoped given enough time, Tia would come to him of her own accord.

The second sun was almost set as Misha limped along the sand, brooding on what might have been-on what might yet be. They'd spent the day talking over what action to take next and Misha had a bad feeling Tia was winning the argument. For all her pa.s.sion and unreasonable hatred of Dirk Provin, she could put forward a rational and convincing argument when she wanted to. She had modified her original suggestion that she simply kill Dirk to one where she and Reithan returned to Senet to find out what was happening, before allowing either Misha or Mellie to leave Garwenfield. It was probably the best idea anyone had put forward so far, and Misha thought they would agree to it, sooner rather than later.

Within a few days, Tia might be gone. The chances were good he might never see her again. The prospect was almost unbearable.

Reaching the end of the beach, Misha turned back toward the house as the first sun bled into the sky, lost in his morose thoughts. He could make it all the way to the rocks and back without the crutch now. Although Master Helgin had warned him his left side would always be weaker than his right, he was walking unaided and had never felt stronger. He was looking forward to walking back into Avacas palace.Let them sneer at the Crippled Prince now.

He looked up and noticed a figure walking along the beach toward him and stopped dead when he realized it was Tia. She was alone.

Misha waited for her, partly because he was too surprised to continue, and partly because he was still a little self-conscious about his limping gait. Tia walked toward him slowly, almost reluctantly. When he saw the look on her face as she neared him, his heart sank.

"h.e.l.lo, Tia."

"You've come a long way," she remarked. "I remember when we first brought you here. It almost killed you just walking from the Wanderer to the house."

"A lot's happened since that day," he reminded her.

"Hasn't it," she agreed with a noncommittal shrug. She said nothing for a time and Misha was too afraid to break the silence, certain whatever he said, it would be the wrong thing.

"I'm leaving tomorrow with Reithan," she told him eventually. "We're going to Senet to see if we can figure out what Dirk's up to. And maybe put a stop to it."

"I thought you might."

"Once we know it's safe, Reithan will come back for you and Lexie and Mellie."

"Lexie's staying?"

Tia nodded. "She doesn't want to leave Mellie again."

"That's understandable, I suppose."

They said nothing more for a time. Misha found the silence unbearable.

"Tia..."

He had no idea what to say. And there was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to thank her. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to kiss her again the way she'd kissed him the day he woke free of the poppy-dust...

But for some reason, he couldn't find the words. Or the courage.

"You will be careful, won't you?" he warned, cursing his own cowardice. "There's a price on your head, remember."

"I'll be careful."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

He wondered if she meant it, or if she was just saying that to be polite. "I would have thought you'd be relieved to see the back of me."

"No. I think I really will miss you," she said, and then she smiled. "I probably won't know what to do with myself if I start getting a full night's sleep."

He smiled uncertainly. They fell back into an awkward silence for a while.

"So this is good-bye, then."

Tia looked away. "I suppose."

"Well, good luck." G.o.ddess ...I sound like a d.a.m.ned fool.

She glanced back at him and nodded uncertainly. "You, too."They stared at each other for a moment, and then she turned abruptly and headed back toward the house.

Misha watched her leave with a feeling akin to having his heart sliced out of his chest with a rusty blade. He had ruined his only chance, he realized. Once she left Garwenfield he would lose her forever.

"Tia!"

She stopped and turned to look at him, waiting for him to add something. But his courage deserted him again and he was suddenly lost for words. He took a hesitant step toward her.

"Don't go."

She hesitated for a moment longer, and then it felt as if the whole world shifted beneath Misha's feet.

Perhaps she read his mind. Whatever the reason, Tia covered the short distance between them at a run.

Before he had time to realize she had come to him, she was in his arms.

He kissed her urgently and she kissed him back with all the pa.s.sion and ardor he'd wished for. He pulled her to him with all his newfound strength, afraid he was dreaming; afraid this was just an illusion and at any moment he would wake up and find himself lying in bed, weak and trembling in the grip of a drug-addled fantasy.

"I love you, Tia," he managed to stammer between kisses.

She broke away suddenly. Misha was terrified he had ruined everything with his foolish declaration.

"Don't say that unless you mean it," she warned, searching his face for some hint that he was merely toying with her.

"I mean it, Tia. More than you could ever know."

She frowned at him. "Do you really love me, Misha? Or are you just confusing what you're feeling with friendship and grat.i.tude?"

"I love you, Tia," he repeated, never more certain of anything in his life. "I'm grateful to you, I'm indebted to you and I'm overwhelmed by you. But I know what I'm feeling and it's none of those things. I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time." He smiled. "Actually, I think I fell for you that day you came into my room to change the sheets in the palace in Avacas and you told me how to play chess."

Tia returned his smile hesitantly. "I think I fell for you the day you told me to get over Dirk or I'd turn into a bitter old woman."

Her words elated him, but there was a hint of caution in them. There was still one thing he needed to know. Still one thing Misha had to be certain of.

"Are you over Dirk, Tia?" he asked. He wanted her to love him, not use him as a distraction or a way to get back at Dirk.

Tia thought about her answer for a moment and then she nodded. With a smile that set Misha's heart racing, she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him again, leaving no doubt about her feelings.

"Dirk who?" she asked.