The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

had to strain to hear him.
    “What about my wife?”
    “I have met with the leaders of one cell of Gnuls. They have orders to prove that she is a witch of the first order. Everyone knows that witches can’t bear children.” He swallowed deeply. “And . . . and they say she has bewitched you so you won’t put her aside, just as King Simeon has bewitched the Queen of SeLenicca. Some say that Her Grace is in league with Simeon and that is why you won’t invade SeLenicca and end the war. The leaders plan to drug the queen so that she will miscarry. Then they will present the deformed fetus as ‘evidence’ to the Council of Provinces in time for her to be exiled or burned at the next solstice.”

Chapter 17
     
    F ear for Mikka drained the blood from Darville’s head and limbs. Shakily, he dismissed the spy with a handful of gold to buy passage out of Coronnan that very day.
    “I must return to my brother’s court,” Mikka whispered. “For your sake, I must go.” She rose gracefully from her window seat and the bright sunshine she loved. “If you wait to divorce me until I get there, I can persuade Manuel the fault is mine and he needn’t invade Coronnan to avenge my honor.”
    “No.” Feeling and heat began to return to Darville’s body. “If you scuttle away now, like some beetle frightened of the light, then you have given the Gnuls control over our lives, over all of Coronnan. I cannot allow that to happen. I will not let them take you from me.” He knelt in front of her window seat, clutching her hand between both of his.
    “What else can we do?” She pulled free of his touch and buried her face in her hands.
    Darville gathered her into his arms, holding her close against his heart, where she belonged.
    “First, I will order your maids to taste all of your food before you do. Everything, even a cup of water. Then, I will set forces in motion to hunt down members of the cult who commit outrages against my citizens. No more will I bury myself so deeply in military tactics and trade agreements that I lose sight of what is happening in my own country. The Gnuls will be brought to justice.”
    “But their followers are many. They will not tolerate a banning of the cult. Executing the leaders will make them martyrs.” Mikka raised her head, once more a dignified queen advising her husband.
    “They will be brought to justice, not banned or outlawed. If they commit the crimes of kidnap, torture, and murder, then they will pay for their crimes, like any other citizen.”
    “That will not stop the rumors. I am still suspected of witchcraft.”
    “We will do what we must to put the rumors aside. Though I know in my head and my gut that the action is a tactical error, I will authorize an invasion of SeLenicca.”
     
    Military men must wear blinders. They can see forward only in a straight line. Darville has foolishly invaded SeLenicca. At first his troops penetrated deep into the interior along the trader’s road.
    But that movement outraged all of Simeon’s citizens, even the ones who hate and fear him. They rally to defend their land. War fever grips them. The homeless and unemployed flock to join the army. Merchants double the price of lace overseas to buy more weapons and supplies. Outlanders react to the inflated value of lace by ordering even more and demanding greater variety.
    Now Darville is in danger of losing control of the pass between the two countries. His Council will not tolerate defeat. They bring Jonnias and the Marnaks back into their ranks in defiance of Darville, though the rebel lords have not paid their fines or made public apology for burning the monastery all those years ago. The younger Marnak wears a ring with a black diamond. His wedding ring, presented by Lord Krej himself. Marnak does not know that the diamond is really precious glass. With a candle and my own glass, I can see and hear through the ring all of the Council’s private discussions. I should have forced him to pay the fines earlier so I could spy on the Council.
    Soon young Rossemanuel of Rossemeyer will receive his poisonous letter from his sister. His death, traced back to Rossemikka, will start a new war against Darville and Coronnan.
    Events move closer to my goals. I need the chaos of war to make my form of peace and order look like a blessing.
     
    Jack awakened gradually from his dream of a woman with pale blond hair, like moonlight on water. He’d dreamed of her often in the last three years,