Page 53 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

Anger flaring, he turned to his parents. ‘Regardless. Kolyath believes this sword, this sigil, to be the first omen of the prophecy. Cahra risked her life to warn me, so I brought her back with us. Finding the Seer, Wyldaern, was simply serendipitous.’

Sylvie’s eyes flickered to Thierre. ‘Can I ask—’ she began in an oddly muted voice, but their father cut her off.

‘You have my thanks.’ The King’s words were too perfunctory for Thierre’s liking, and not nearly thankful enough. ‘The omen-bearer and a Seer. It is the edge we need against the scourge of Kolyath and Ozumbre.’

‘I have not yet finished,’ Thierre interrupted. ‘I brought them, however, they shall not remain here. Wyldaern travels to meet her teacher and Cahra wishes to accompany her. As do I.’

The King’s stare was unyielding. ‘No.’ It was a decree.

Thierre flinched. ‘What?’

‘Hael’stromia’s black sands shall pale before I permit you to go gadding about again. It is too dangerous. It was too dangerous before, yet I allowed this folly. It was a mistake.’

He stared at his father. ‘You have welcomed a Seer and the bearer of the prophecy’s first omen into your kingdom. Tell me, what was the mistake?’

Tyne answered for him. ‘Your near-death at Atriposte’s hand.’

The Commander’s reply set Thierre’s ire ablaze and he was ready to retaliate when Sylvie murmured, ‘Thi, he’s not wrong.’

‘I cannot believe you are defending them! You are the one who warned me about Delicia—’ No sooner had the words left Thierre’s mouth than they sank to the ground like dead weights. Sylvie’s eyes flashed at his breach of trust.

I either disclose too little, or too much. I cannot win.Thierre exhaled, attempting an apologetic smile.

His mother sighed, eyelashes fluttering, and signalled for one of her handmaids. ‘Thierre, what precisely is it that you find so distasteful about Delicia? She is the daughter of a lord and decorated veteran. Her family has the requisite wealth and standing. Truly, it is an inspired pairing.’

‘She is insufferable,’ Thierre said heatedly. ‘A self-seeking opportunist who would happily trade her father for a sack of jewels.’

Sylvie burst out laughing. The Queen stared at her children haughtily, as Sylvie said, ‘What? I did tell you as much, Mother.’

‘I think that she is delightful,’ Thierre’s mother sniffed.

‘Of course you do. Except that she is not, and you are not being forced to marry her.’ The room’s eyes on Thierre, he did not hesitate. ‘Call it off.’

For the first time since Cahra and Wyldaern had left, the room fell silent. Tyne wisely retreated to an armchair near the exit, giving them the privacy for yet another family row. Raiden flashed Thierre a remorseful look, joining the Commander.

‘Please,’ Thierre begged his parents.

‘Thierre.’ The Queen rose, her face a mask of motherly concern. ‘I wish we could heed your request, but it has been decided, darling. You are to wed Delicia come the spring.’

Thierre’s heart pounded. ‘That is but months away!’

‘And we have been preparing for far longer.’ His mother batted his distress away with a flick of her manicured hand, her attendant arriving.

‘You cannot be serious,’ he said, stunned.There must be some recourse.The Queen tasked the maid with another pot of chamomile. ‘Mother, this is my life we are talking about. It is more important than your blasted tea!’

She tutted at him, frowning. ‘Thierre, if you cannot be gracious, retire to your rooms, and take that churlish language with you.’

After hours of diplomatically playing his family’s game, Thierre was out of patience. ‘I shall tell you what I take with me: the knowledge that my own parents are forcing me into a lifelong commitment with a woman I despise!’ He warned, ‘If you think for one moment that I am yielding to this mockery of a marriage,you are sorely mistaken!’ And with that, Thierre stormed from the war room, slamming the heavy door behind him.

Thierre stalked down the stairs and into the empty hallway. A moment later, the door banged shut, a second set of footsteps following.

‘Thi,’ Sylvie called. He didn’t stop. ‘Thierre!’ His sister grabbed his arm as he reached the hall’s far end. He turned, glowering at the cream columns juxtaposed against the forest green of the marbled floor.

‘Cahra. She’s the reason you are spurning Delicia, isn’t she?’

Thierre sighed. His sister had always been too good at reading people.

Sylvie watched him as she asked, ‘Just what is going on between you?’