Destiny Scorns

CHAPTER NINE

 

  Alice didn't like the fact that Wendy was back much less the fact that she was quite powerful. She had asked Jared what she was doing back but like him, he never told her anything that was substantial. She was starting to hate him especially after the incident during the festival when she was not told what was going on because she was being left out deliberately. Ever since then, Jared had made Gorham's castle his headquarters and abandoned her to her castle. Not that she wasn't glad about that but now she had a bit of privacy and her relationship with Joel was progressing slowly. She found out the hard way that Joel was one of those people whose forgiveness never came easily.

  Now she decided to go speak to the only person who could understand the dilemma that she was going through. She went directly to Nathan's castle. As she rode through she could see Nathan's two little children, a boy and girl playing in the field. She was always surprised by how the latter normally kept his family life private.

  When she exited the carriage, she was taken directly to Nathan's office. It seemed to her she was expected. She went to sit down on her own waving away any help that she was offered. She laid out her predicament to Nathan and the latter listened intently to her.

  Finally he leaned back onto his chair as if in deep thought. `Why don't you go and ask

  Gorham his advice?'

  `Wendy is there, not to mention she is getting her own advice from Gorham.'

  `Whether or not that is true, Gorham is entitled to give you his advice.' Nathan's eyes were keen to note the hesitation in her. `Or is it that you are afraid of her?'

  `What?'

  `You are afraid of Wendy and though you don't want to admit it, you think that she'd be more capable to take up the crown.' `I didn't say that.'

  `You didn't have to. The fact that you are even here proves it. You should have listened to

  Diane about not showing what you are thinking.'

  `Her daughter isn't doing well on that either.'

  `She's a fast learner. She'll get it in no time.'

  `So what you are saying is that I have no hope to retain my crown?'

  `No, what I'm telling you is that you have to get better advice from the person who is capable to give it to you. If you are afraid of meeting Wendy then have spies who can tell you if she is around or not.'

  `Gorham never supported me taking over. His advice would be that I step down.'

  `Probably but you have to show him that you have no intentions of doing that. He's a man of the people and would never support a civil war.'

  `Wendy has with her two wizards and Victor is probably on his way back.'

  `Three wizards can never match an army as big as yours. They may have incredible powers but, they still tire out like the rest of us.'

  Alice was quiet. `Why did she have to come back now and why is she not leaving?'

  Nathan watched her wondering if he should tell her. He shrugged and then started, `My spies tell me that they are more focused with Sidney. She hasn't got out of bed since the time that Wendy and the others showed up.'

  `Why? What's going on?'

  `I don't know but I was told that all three of them take turns to watch her and she is never left alone. You are better suited to find out than I am.'

  `And if it is something bad then we can use it against her.'

  Nathan shifted in his seat nervously. `I'm sorry but I cannot join you in this.'

  `What?'

  `I have my own interests to protect and whether or not you win this battle with Wendy, I want to stay on Gorham's good side. You will do this on your own.' He stood up and left her there flabbergasted. There goes her only ally. At least she had been given a place to start looking. She knew she could never persuade Nathan into joining her but she knew someone whom she still had a grasp on. Joel. He may not be much in the circles but he was bound to have heard something given that his brother used to be very close to Sidney.