Stars May Fall (Stars May Burn #2)

6. Venerick

VENERICK

I startled when my candle dripped hot wax on my wrist. I pushed back my chair as the sharp pain caused me to wave my hand in the air. When had it burned so low and started to lean like that? I blew it out and lit another before it could mar the legal documents I was writing. My mind was distracted tonight, and time was passing without much progress.

I had too many questions to sleep. I had spent yesterday fulfilling Annabelle’s request to clear up the incident with Sir Halfield, which had all been tied up neatly. But now I was left with the increasingly familiar sensation of sitting alone grasping at wisps of smoke and trying to make meaning from them.

Annabelle had finally let me in—even if it had just been a sliver—and it had left me more lost than ever. I had never expected her first request to involve aiding General Kasten Batton and his wife. I had never met anyone who cared about him or his family before. Most people at court seemed to be patiently waiting for him to be dismissed or killed. And the rest were impatient for it. For my part, I had barely spared the man a second thought. I hadn’t been involved in the war with Kollenstar and had no wish to be.

But I did care about justice, and I hoped this meant Annabelle did too. No matter who somebody was or who their friends were, they had a right to be defended by the law when they were wronged. And Sir Halfield had certainly wronged his daughter. Maybe Annabelle was more like me than I’d dared hope.

But that didn’t explain how she had ended up witnessing the aftermath of Lady Sophie Batton’s late-night kidnapping, let alone how she had come to be the sole person standing between General Batton and Lord Lyrason, trying to prevent a civil war. And the object in the velvet pouch was certainly none of my business, but that didn’t stop me thinking about it.

I had always found her fascinating. Captivating. Like the most intricate of court cases that can only be solved after peeling back layer after layer of complexities to reveal the truth beneath. But I had never expected this…

She was hiding a lot from me. A lot from everyone… if my suspicions were correct. And people always hid things for a reason.

My fingers itched to dissect her life with a proper methodical investigation, but I knew she would see that as a huge breach of trust. So I had to wait to be given whatever morsels she saw fit to throw my way, though a part of me was worried about what I would find out.

Maybe my expectations of our relationship were unrealistic. Everyone had expected her to be engaged to Lord Lyrason after all. I had never dreamed I would be so lucky as for the king to change his mind and choose me. I had no idea why he had made such a decision, and I still had to win her over. We had barely interacted before the king’s announcement.

In contrast, she had spent a lot of time talking with Lord Lyrason over the last few years, and I wondered if some of her feelings for him still lingered. When Kasten threatened him, she had run to his aid without thought of her own safety. She had put her life in danger for him.

Jealousy twinged in my stomach, and I suppressed it. That was unfair of me. It was normal to have feelings for the person you were expecting to marry, and normal for those feelings to take time to ebb away.

I just wished I knew how to turn her affections to me instead. It wasn’t like I had much to recommend myself.

There was a knock on the door, and I made sure nothing confidential was on display before calling for my guest to enter.

Duke James appeared carrying a dusty bottle of wine and two glasses. His blue jacket was half unbuttoned, but his slick black hair was as neat as ever. His skin had deepened to sepia, making me guess he had been spending a lot of his time outdoors recently, contrasting to my own tone that hadn’t seen the sun in days. His well exercised frame only made my own seem more spindly, but his eyes seemed tired. I leaned back in my chair and smiled, grateful for the distraction.

“James. I didn’t know you were at the castle.”

He nodded with a weary sigh. “The king has asked to see me first thing tomorrow so I thought I would stay the night. I saw your light was on under the doorway and thought you might like some company.” He frowned at the candle. “What are you using that for? You’re in the palace. Use the kryalcomy lanterns.”

I shrugged. “I was, but I need to recharge my desk light. The turstan has run out, and I was too deep in my work to bother with it, so I lit the candles instead.”

Duke James scoffed. “Only you would be writing by candlelight here. You could always wake a servant to do it for you. And what dreary long document has you so engrossed that you’d risk accidentally burning it to embers?” He peered over my shoulder.

I looked down, a little embarrassed. “It’s a peace treaty between Fenland and Kollenstar.”

Duke James stared at me as if I had gone mad. I probably had. He stepped backward and collapsed into an armchair, shaking his head at me. “Whatever are you writing that for?”

I shrugged, looking down at the document that was already far thicker than it should be for something that would likely never be of use. “I write it when I can’t sleep. I like to think that one day we may be able to use it. It helps me remain…hopeful.”

I stayed looking at the stack of paper, feeling more and more like a fool, while James chuckled behind me. I heard the clink of wine glasses and the gurgle of wine being poured. “You are a hopeless idealist, you know that? Kollenstar has invaded every country bordering it since they invented soulless and similar haemalcomy arts. Do you think they’ll want to stop when their spies tell them about General Kasten’s new kryalcomy? No, they’ll want it for themselves or to eliminate the threat. Not to mention the king loves his war. You know how he lets it occupy the people he doesn’t want to deal with. How else would he send them away for months on end, some never to return? Besides, it gives the citizens purpose and events to celebrate. Helps him keep his standing army. It’s all very convenient for him.”

I sighed and turned my chair away from the desk to join him by the fire, surprised the flames had gotten so low. I’d had this discussion about the benefits of the war many, many times before, and I was sick of it. “I know, I know. Still, surely it’s up to me to write what I want in my free time.”

James held his hands up as if to say he wasn’t criticizing me further.

I changed the conversation. “How is your son?”

His face softened, and he stared into his wine. “Well. He is enjoying debating at the colloquium and all the new friendships and parties that come with it. Forming the alliances of the next generation, as he puts it.” He took a sip and raised an eyebrow at me. “And I’m afraid to say, they are all still rather enthusiastic about the war.”

Probably because it was much easier to send troops than to be a foot soldier facing twisted terrors. I understood the necessity of stopping Kollenstar, I really did, but still a man could dream…

I tapped my fingers wondering whether to keep the conversation light—it was almost midnight, after all—or ask the questions I was burning to know the answers to.

James’s eyes narrowed in the firelight, and his voice softened. “I know what you’re thinking, Venerick. It’s not a topic we can discuss.”

I pinched my forehead, wondering when I had become so transparent. “I need to know, James. I need to know what is going on with Lord Lyrason and these…experiments Annabelle was referring to. Whatever thing infected Lady Batton.”

James leaned back, his face serious. “No, you don’t.”

I grimaced. “They involve Annabelle. How am I to understand what she is caught up in?”

His face became harder as he sipped his wine. “She’s not caught up in it. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed something she shouldn’t. If you want her to be safe, you should impress on her that she shouldn’t be in Adenburg alone at night. What on earth was she thinking? None of my guards knew of her whereabouts. It was foolhardy of her.”

I knew I shouldn’t press, but I couldn’t help it. “Lord Lyrason is locked up. The king is interrogating him himself. Surely all of this is about to come out anyway. Can’t you explain to me?”

James scoffed, but there was no humor in his face. “If I were to tell you of all people what was going on, I would be a dead man. Focus on your work, and let the king sort this out. If Lyrason goes to court, you’ll find out then. Until then, don’t get involved.”

I stroked my wine glass, my heartbeat increasing at my recklessness; I knew we were straying into dangerous territory. “Is this why the city guard periodically avoids the downtown areas?” I’d noticed the spikes in crime on certain nights, as well as illogical patrol schedules. Could it be due to these newly uncovered experiments of Lord Lyrason?

James stiffened and stood. “I came here for a friendly chat, Venerick. Not accusations.”

I closed my eyes and waved him back down. He was right, I was being insensitive. The last thing he needed was me quizzing him on these areas when he was no doubt already worried about explaining himself to the king. For all I knew, he could be in as much trouble as General Kasten had suggested the other night. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please sit. I won’t ask any more difficult questions. You must be stressed already. I hope your meeting with the king goes well in the morning.”

He hesitated before sitting again. He took a deep drink. “Kingdoms, Venerick, that almost sounded like a threat.”

I scoffed. “I don’t threaten. Somebody is either guilty or not and should have logical consequences. I don’t see any justification in using somebody’s guilt and fear for one’s own advantage.”

Duke James smirked. “And that, my dear man, is why I can tell you nothing. You’re too rigid, and you take your job far too seriously.”

I sighed and drank, but Duke James was right. If I knew what was going on, my conscience would take it to the courts. It was best I didn’t know, and let the king sort out the details, rather than risk my few friendships. No doubt he would get the courts involved soon enough. Anyway, it wasn’t my job to investigate; it was my job to deal with the cases given to me. And I had more than enough to keep me going. One had to be methodical and follow procedures, if they wished the law to have structure and meaning.

I gestured at James. “I am sorry again for my insinuations about the city guard patrols. I am tired, as I am sure you are.”

He sipped without taking his eyes off me. “How are things going between you and Annabelle?”

I shrugged. “We’re still getting to know each other. I made us a timetable up to the wedding of when we should see each other to fit into our busy schedules.”

James laughed out loud, a deep chuckle that broke the tension. “Of course you did. What about romantic spontaneity? Stones thrown at windows for moonlight garden walks? That sort of thing.”

I frowned. “Scheduling meetings shows they are important. It’s also nice to know you have something to look forward to. Chaotic meetings are likely to be inconvenient or put pressure on other areas. I want it to be clear that I will always prioritize her in a way that is sustainable and reliable.”

James raised his glass. “And quite right too.” He leaned in. “And while you’ve been asking inappropriate questions, I have one of my own. What favor did you do for the king in order for him to betroth you to Annabelle?”

I sat back with a grimace. Even Duke James thought the match was strange enough that I must have played some backhanded trick for the honor. I spread my hands. “Maybe he simply recognized the dedication I put into my work. Besides, Lyrason is too old for her. He’s over twice her age. It would have never worked.”

I probably put a little too much distaste and dismissiveness in my voice because James smiled as if my jealousy was plain on my face. “Oh, come on, Venerick, think. He must have said something of his reasons.”

I stared into space, the question only looming bigger every time I thought about it. “He said he thought we were a good match and that I could make her happy.”

James snorted. “Everyone always says that of every match to the couple themselves. That’s not a reason.”

I didn’t disagree, but the king hadn’t seemed flippant when he’d said that. More…vulnerable and hopeful? I couldn’t understand it. If Annabelle had been getting up to mischief sneaking out at night, maybe I was meant to rein her in and calm her down. But that didn’t sound like much of a happy relationship to me

James set down his empty glass. “Come, enough talk. Let's play black knocks.”

I drained my own glass and nodded, grateful for the distraction. Our friendship had formed over this board game originally from Cerith, and it was rare to have an opponent as interesting as James. Not many nobles in Fenland could play it. I fished the board out from under the table, and we set up our pieces in battlelines on opposite sides of the intricately detailed board.

James always played aggressively. I preferred the defensive. The familiar pattern of the pieces soon calmed my mind once again.