Sanguinis Vinculum - Chapter 3
Aug. 17th, 2008 10:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xxlucyferxxRating: PG-13
Pairing: Susan/Caspian
Summary: The war against Miraz is over, but a new force is rising that could bring Caspian's kingdom crashing down around him. Now he and the Kings and Queens of Old must face an ancient evil that threatens to destroy everything they believe in.
( Chapter 1. Falling From Grace ) ( Chapter 2. Encounters )
Author's Notes: So sorry about the lack of action in this chapter. It's a filler, I know, but there were things I really needed to lay out before I could go too much further. I hope you'll all forgive me.
Thank you a million times over to
xphoenixrising for taking up the tedious and largely thankless task of being my beta for this story. I haven't really done her justice with this chapter, but it was an awful lot worse before she stepped in.
----
“And there were no signs of a struggle? A fight, perhaps? Were they armed?”
A gangly Telmarine youth stood in the middle of Caspian’s study, looking absurdly out-of-place in his immaculate soldier’s uniform. The Battle of the How had brought out many new army recruits, but Caspian was beginning to think he would have to do something about the age restrictions for enlisting. The boy looked white as a sheet as he addressed his small audience, wringing his hands as though he was personally culpable for the events he had been ordered to report.
“Their swords were all sheathed, Sire. Whatever happened, there was no resistance on their part.”
Caspian rested an elbow on the desk, glancing uncertainly at Doctor Cornelius, who was seated nearby listening intently. “This makes no sense,” he said slowly. “Five young soldiers dead in an alleyway, with no evidence of any violence?”
“It is quite a mystery,” spoke up Cornelius. “The only solution I can come up with is that they were poisoned. Did they have any enemies, Scullin?”
The young soldier, Scullin, shook his head earnestly. “None that I know of, sir. They were well liked among our regiments. I don’t know that anyone would have wanted them dead.”
Caspian frowned, tugging at a strand of dark hair in frustration. “I don’t see what I can do about it,” he said. “Have their friends and family interviewed – see if anyone knows something. Get their bodies examined by a physician. Aside from that, I think we’ll just have to leave it be for now.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Scullin bowed and took his leave.
He had scarcely departed when Peter came bowling in, red-faced and still dripping with sweat from his morning’s sparring practice. “So, what’s going on?” he demanded, shaking his damp hair out of his face. “I heard there’s been some sort of murder.”
Caspian sighed, shaking his head wearily. “Five new army recruits. The butcher found them dead in an alleyway behind his shop. They bear no significant wounds, and their swords were all sheathed. And their families are clamouring for me to find and punish the culprits.”
A moment of meditative silence followed, broken only by the crackling of the fire. “That doesn’t add up, though,” said Peter eventually.
“I know.” Caspian tried to keep his tone civil. He had been hoping that Peter would have something helpful to contribute to the discussion.
Peter just gave him a sympathetic shrug. “Any ideas so far?”
“Well, Cornelius thinks they might have been poisoned.”
Cornelius cleared his throat sharply. “It is only a guess, Majesty,” he put in hurriedly. “I am quite as baffled as you are.”
“Well, have you got any other clues?” asked Peter impatiently.
Caspian shook his head, reaching decisively for a stack of letters on the desk. “The physician’s report will tell us the accuracy of your guess. Until then, let us talk no more of it.” He didn’t want to admit it in front of High King Peter, but Caspian was nearly at the end of his tether. A murder mystery was the last thing he needed on his plate right now.
His mood did not improve when Peter had a look at the most recent budget summary and told him, with the casual air of one commenting on the weather, that he hadn’t allowed enough money to cover the shipments of wood due to arrive from Archenland (the discovery of Trees had necessitated the import of such depressingly abundant material until a suitable method of distinguishing Trees from trees could be established). When the High King eventually departed to clean himself up, Caspian decided he had earned a break. Sending Cornelius off, he poured himself a generous glass of brandy, shrugged off his doublet and set his feet impolitely on the desk. It was in this position that Susan found him when she burst, unannounced, into the study.
Her dark hair tumbled down her back in loose curls, contrasting vividly with the pale lavender of her flowing silk dress. He felt his heart leap into his throat. Surely, in the long weeks since she had first arrived, he ought to have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to her beauty. And yet somehow, he still managed to feel thoroughly tongue-tied whenever she was around.
“No no no, don’t get up,” she said mildly when he made to leap to his feet, chagrined at showing such discourtesy in front of a lady.
She came and stood behind his chair, resting her hands lightly on his shoulders. “You look exhausted.”
“I am,” he admitted, leaning back into her touch and trying (with limited success) not to enjoy her proximity too much. She began rubbing his shoulders, easing the tension from the knotted muscles, silver bracelets clinking softly somewhere by his ear.
Caspian would never dream of admitting it, but he enjoyed these tender moments with Susan in a way that went well beyond mere sexual tension between lovers. Since his Nurse had been sent away when he was a very small boy, Caspian had not been used to receiving any signs of affection from anyone around him. The closest thing to loving contact he had ever received from his uncle had been the occasional beating when he was caught getting into mischief. Even when he lost his virginity, it had been a thoroughly unaffectionate affair – a sort of quick and awkward early-adolescent dalliance that ended almost before either party had had time to register that it had begun. To be held and caressed so lovingly, and to be free to reciprocate, was an experience quite new to him and he didn’t think he would ever tire of it.
“Come out for a stroll with me,” she suggested after a few minutes of comfortable silence. Her warm breath tickled the back of his neck. “You’ve been cooped up in here for ages.”
Caspian smiled. It did sound tempting. He emptied the last drops from his cup, donned his doublet and jerkin, and offered Susan his arm.
The castle grounds were bathed in sunlight, the grass still damp with the morning dew. Susan pressed close to him, and the scent of her flowery perfume filled him with a strange desire to bury his face in her hair and inhale deeply. His earlier vexation with the world had evaporated, and he was blithely oblivious to the curious eyes of the servants and courtiers as they followed their progress down the gently sloping lawn. To most of them, Susan was still very much an object of intrigue – the barbarian queen of old, as they called her, who had attracted the interest of their youthful king by what superstitious women and impressionable court children still believed to be sorcery.
They found themselves approaching a great fountain, pouring water cheerfully from the mouth of a cherubic girl clutching a harp and wearing only the most meagre scraps of fabric for modesty. To their surprise, they found Lucy out there already. She was strolling back and forth with a small bundle clasped to her chest, and she smiled toothily when she saw them.
“Hullo! It’s lovely weather, isn’t it? I thought I’d bring Regalian out for a bit of fresh air. He was getting awfully restless inside.”
Susan smiled, greeting the baby with a tender caress of the cheek. He looked slightly alarmed, but did not cry – he was making excellent progress under Lucy’s patient and devoted care. Caspian stood back, smiling rather stiffly.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to him?” asked Lucy innocently, holding the child out towards Caspian. The King eyed Regalian uncomfortably.
“I am not very good with children.” His tone was polite, but a little cool.
If Lucy noticed his reluctance, she did a very good job of pretending not to. “Oh, don’t worry, Caspian dearest. It isn’t hard at all – you just have to keep your voice all soft. Like this, see? Hello, Regalian. Who’s a good little boy, eh? That’s right, it’s you, isn’t it darling?” She adopted a childlike, cooing tone and Regalian gurgled cheerfully in response.
Caspian’s smile was fixed and hollow. “Forgive me, my Queens, but I must take my leave. There are matters of state I must discuss with Cornelius.” Bowing courteously, he left before either of them could protest.
Lucy’s smile faded slightly, and she glanced worriedly at Susan. “Is he quite alright? He’s had nothing to do with poor Regalian since…” she trailed off, chewing her lip thoughtfully. “I just don’t think it’s quite wise. I mean, until he has a son of his own, this is his heir. He ought to be more attentive.”
Regalian whimpered softly, sensing Lucy’s change in mood. Susan shrugged helplessly. “I don’t think he wants much to do with him,” she said honestly. Lucy always had that effect on people – one couldn’t help but open up to her. “He’s not very fond of his family, and Regalian is just one more unwelcome tie to his ancestors.”
“Not anymore,” said Lucy indignantly. “Why, Regalian’s part of our family now! And so is Caspian…well,” she shot a cheeky sidelong glance at her sister, “I daresay he will be before too long.”
Susan flushed bright red as she realised what Lucy was insinuating. “Lucy!”
“Oh, come on, Su. I think it’s wonderful.” She sat down by the edge of the fountain, bouncing Regalian gently on her knee. “Caspian would make such a lovely brother, and your being married to him would clear up some of the confusion as to who belongs where in court. I don’t think any of the boys really know who’s King right now.”
“How can you talk like that?” Susan was growing redder by the minute, and it occurred to her that she had never even thought to discuss her relationship with Caspian with her siblings before. She had taken it for granted that they wouldn’t really notice – she supposed they hadn’t been as discreet as she had thought. “He hasn’t said anything to even suggest that he’s thinking of marrying me.”
“Oh, he’s thinking it,” giggled Lucy. “Or are you accusing him of being an unscrupulous flirt?”
Susan scowled, scrambling to catch the last remaining threads of her dignity. “You’re far too young to be thinking about such things, Lucy.”
“I am not. I used to be an adult too, you know.” Regalian whimpered again, pitiful and needy, and Lucy quickly lifted him to her shoulder and got up. “Oh, dear. It’s time for your feed, isn’t it? Let’s go find Nurse, then…sorry, Su. I’ll see you in a bit.”
So Susan was left alone by the fountain, torn between giddiness and indignation. She couldn’t help wondering, though, what it would be like to marry Caspian. There was obviously something between them, but it had never occurred to her to try and put a name to it. She had never thought of spending the rest of her life with him…
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
---
The physician’s report was in.
The three Kings – Edmund had showed up as well this time – and Cornelius all leant over the desk in Caspian’s study, trying to make sense of the latest findings.
“Well, at least we know they weren’t poisoned,” said Caspian, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.
Edmund frowned intently. “You say this isn’t the only case?”
“There were new reports this morning,” Cornelius put in gravely. “A farmer on the outskirts of the city woke up to find his wife dead beside him. His two young daughters also had passed away in the night.”
Peter shook his head irritably. “And nobody knows what killed them, either?”
“A physician has already examined them. They had lost much blood, as with our gentlemen yesterday, and there was no poison or contaminant in their veins. Nor were there any injuries, except for…but it is distasteful to speak of.”
Caspian frowned sternly. “Go on, Professor.”
“Well, Sire, they bore…marks…on their necks and breasts, and other places. According to the report, they appeared to be the marks of a lover – harmless, bruising and shallow punctures. Hardly enough to account for the profuse loss of blood.”
Edmund cocked a brow. “Then what does it have to do with the case at all?”
“Well,” said Cornelius, “all eight victims that we know of have borne identical marks.”
Edmund and Peter exchanged bewildered looks. Caspian, however, gave a snort that sounded almost mirthful.
“Is the physician suggesting,” he asked, “that our victims died of debauchery?”
Peter rolled his eyes. “Be serious, Caspian.”
“I am being serious. At least, only so serious as our esteemed coroner here.”
“Suit yourself.” Peter heaved a weary sigh. “The issue still stands – what are we going to do about all this?”
“If I may, Your Highness,” said Cornelius. A strange look had come over his face, and his brows were furrowed. “I say we should do nothing at all – at least, not for now. It may be that these are freak accidents, but I doubt it. I wish to do a little research into the matter, and see if I can discover the more specific circumstances of the deaths. Until then, it would be best to keep the affair out of the public eye as much as possible. Peasants do talk, and we don’t want to spark a panic.”
Caspian nodded slowly, looking past Cornelius to look at the dancing flames in the fireplace.
“No,” He said, voice more sober now. “Panic is the last thing we need.” And yet he couldn’t help the feeling bubbling up inside with each flicker of light.
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Date: 2008-08-18 10:34 am (UTC)Glad you liked this chapter. :)