pictured Gravell standing in front of her, holding his spears.
Nothing happened.
She thought of Gravell in the snow, walking through trees.
The stone seemed to recede again.
That’s it! Think of the human world. Oh, I’ve got it. Think of where you want to go.
The stone dissipated, laying out a path for her to follow. She was doing it. Making a tunnel—a tunnel filled with a faint red glow. She raised her arms and the floor began to slope upward.
And Tash began to laugh as she walked up toward the world she knew.
CATHERINE
NORTHERN PITORIA
Ultimately you must choose: right or wrong, any choice is better than none.
The King, Nicolas Montell
CATHERINE TIPTOED into the king’s bedchamber.
“Is he sleeping?” she whispered to the doctor sitting at his bedside.
The doctor nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve slept enough.” Tzsayn’s voice was rough but weak. “And I’m bored out of my mind.” He tried to sit up while the doctor hurried to help. “I can do it myself,” Tzsayn muttered, though he clearly couldn’t. “Leave me alone.”
Catherine took a step back.
“No, not you, my darling.” Tzsayn gave her the briefest of weak smiles that turned into a grimace as the doctor pulled him upright. Finally the pillows were arranged to the king’s and the doctor’s satisfaction, and the doctor took his leave. Tzsayn put his head back and closed his eyes. His face was damp with sweat.
“Shall I sit here?” Catherine asked, stroking the bed beside Tzsayn.
“The chair is best. I wish you could be closer but . . . my leg is giving me a lot of pain. I’m starting to think I’d be better off without it.”
Catherine cast her eyes over the outline of the frame that had been put over Tzsayn’s leg, holding up the covers so nothing could touch the injured limb. She wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not.
“What does Savage say?”
Tzsayn mimicked the doctor’s deep, slow voice: “I will not let your leg defeat me, Your Majesty. If you would allow me to apply several lotions, an ice compress, a hot compress, a heavy compress, an herb compress.” He looked at Catherine. “He’s given me every kind of bloody compress going, and my leg’s just getting worse.”
“Should we get a different doctor?”
“He’s the best. I’m just tired.”
“Do you want to be left alone?”
“No!” Tzsayn seemed surprised by the strength of his own reply and repeated it more quietly. “No. Absolutely not. I’ve had enough of my own company. Just don’t come near me with a compress.”
Catherine held her hands out. “I’m unarmed, no compresses about my person.”
“And so you must stay. I command it!” Tzsayn said with a smile, then he added, “Is this visit about the marriage question?”
“You said you needed an answer soon, but it’s only been four days.”
Tzsayn looked a little sad. “Indeed. Don’t rush. Take longer.”
Catherine frowned. “Why do you say that? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing. Cheer me up. Tell me news.”
“That I can do.”
“Good news first, then the bad. I’m assuming there is some good news, of course—or is that presumptuous?” He looked sharply at her as he said this, as if to judge her expression rather than the words of her reply.
“Good news . . . well . . .” Though Catherine struggled to think of anything. “I’ve given Tanya a pay raise.”
“Good for Tanya.”
“And she’s spending her money on—well, I’ll give you three guesses.”
“Hmm, it won’t be ribbons or shoes—not Tanya things at all. How much of a raise did you give her?”
“More than I intended.”
“How so?”
“Somehow I was persuaded that, since she has the same title, she should be paid the same as General Davyon. I’m still not sure how that happened.”
“I’m beginning to think Tanya should be my chief negotiator.”
“She wouldn’t be a bad choice.”
“You are still my first choice—you evaded answering my question very neatly by pretending Tanya outsmarted you, which I’m absolutely sure she did not. Anyway, as you won’t answer my question, I guess she spent her money on . . . a horse.”
Catherine laughed. “She does like riding, but no.”
“Armor, like yours. She’d be terrifying.”
“I will ensure I never suggest it.”
“Am I even warm with that guess?”
“Freezing cold.”
Tzsayn frowned and shrugged. “Books.”
“Now you’re being absurd.”
“I give up.”
“Three words I’d never thought you’d say.”
“So put me out of my misery. What did she spend it on?”
“She gave it to the farm widows. Women who’ve lost their land, as well as husbands, to the war. Their children are destitute.”
“She puts us to shame with her generosity. But Lord Eddiscon