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“So what of Lord Riis?” I circled back to my previous question. “What makes you suspect him? After all, he lives in Avaldenn.” To my knowledge, Leyv hadn’t visited his own castle in the east in over a turn. “And regularly attends court at Frostveil. Why are you suspicious?”

“His sons,” Father replied. “Over the turns that I’d known him, I’ve noticed no power difference in Leyv. However, his eldest bastard-born grows ever stronger. Lord Riis might groom his son to use the Scepter.”

Luccanwasmore powerful than two turns back, but now that I knew he was a gatekeeper, I thought it more likely he was extending his magic in that way.

“Are you saying thattheyhave winter magic?” Rhistel asked.

Father shrugged a single shoulder. “We don’t know who Luccan’s mother is, it’s not unrealistic to think that she’s a Falk bastard and has a thread of winter magic in her blood. The Cold King sired bastards before his trueborn children. His father before him sired even more.”

From what I’d heard of the Falk king, that was true. He hadn’t married right away when he took the crown, and he had his own father’s harem at his disposal. It was only when he married Queen Revna that the Cold King stopped sleeping around and visiting his harem. But by then, there were white-haired younglings all around Avaldenn, each of their mothers claiming they were of royal blood.

Calder Falk, my father’s own sire, had only added tothat proliferation of Falk bastards. Though I wasn’t about to mention that. Talking of Calder Falk was always touchy with Father.

“Lord Riis has always been secretive about who birthed hisbloodybastards,” the king added.

“Luccan is now a true Riis,” I said, annoyed that he kept emphasizing that word. Like many at court, Father still thought of the Riis brothers as bastards, but it was no longer true. “You legitimized him. Arie and Thantrel too.”

“Only to hold sway over Lord Riis for the Festival. Still, that decision could prove more fruitful than I ever imagined. It has allowed me to observe Leyv’s sons. Mark my words, there is somethingoffabout Luccan Riis. I want eyes on him, and Vale will do it. You’re already close to him, are you not?”

My stomach tightened. I should have seen this coming. Of course, Father would use my connection to Luccan to his benefit.

“Very well,” I said, not about to argue when we were all being civil.

I wasn’t entirely sure about Lord Riis or where his loyalties lay, but I was absolutely certain that Luccan had nothing to do with the Ice Scepter. I’d have to find some way to prove my friend’s innocence.

“Good.” Father took a long sip of wine. “Now that we’ve covered everything, I’m prepared to make more matches before this bleeding play starts.” He looked at me. “Tell the Clawsguards at the door to have the ushers open the playhouse.”

I did as he requested and minutes later, Mother andSaga appeared. Vidar walked arm in arm with my sister. He inclined his head in greeting, which I returned. Neve walked through the door after them. My pulse quickened.

I held out my hand. “How was it without me?”

She came closer, pressed her lips to my cheek, and kissed it, then whispered, “Fine. Your mother really did introduce me to people. Perhaps she’s making amends?”

Perhaps. I trusted Mother more than Father, but I underestimated neither. Mother might simply be watching my new wife, looking for a weakness to exploit that could rip apart our union.

She said she wanted me happy, but I’d always thought she really meant she wanted me happy as long assheapproved.

“Come,” I said. “We’re in the front.”

We took our seats. Mine next to Rhistel, and Neve on my other side, by Saga, who, since my marriage, had been moved down one seat. Not that my sister minded. If anything, she appeared delighted to have Neve at her side to gossip with.

“Oh look! That’s Avalina Truso!” Saga pointed to the stage where a willowy dryad with long green hair pulled aside the heavy red curtain and peeked out to wave at someone in the crowd. “I hope she sings in this play. Wait until you hear her voice. It’s divine! And, oh stars alive!” She gasped as a male faerie with wings nearly as dark as my own joined Avalina at the curtain. The pair shared a jest and began laughing, as did those in the crowd who could hear them. “Neve, that’s Neris Ibold! All the ladies are half in love with him.”

Happy to let them gossip, I tuned them out. The fae on the lower levels entered the playhouse and took their seats. Fae from all walks of life attended the theater, and they all shared an air of excitement. It warmed my heart to see my people living a life they loved.

Some in the villages, the same people I’d often had to protect from attacks, weren’t so lucky. They didn’t have the safety of the city but found themselves victims of orcs and goblins and other dark creatures that came down from the mountains and out of the deep woods, seeking easier food sources. To take the village’s food because the mountains had become too harsh. And as long as the Ice Scepter was lost and the magic of Winter’s Realm spiraled, those same village people would continue to grow more vulnerable.

Perhaps even those in this room too. If it got cold enough, so many would die.

But on this night, we were together and warm and safe. We were indulging in our culture and laughing. I eyed my wife sidelong, feeling lucky to be here, especially with her.

Once the theater filled, trumpets blared, and my father stood. He addressed the crowd below, as well as the nobles in their boxes. Lord Riis and his sons had joined us in ours—the favored few. Or those that Father wished to keep a close eye on.

“Tonight,” Father’s voice boomed, “I have five more matches to make, and all of you lucky fae will bear witness.”

Below, many gasped, delighted to be included in the Courting Festival in some small way. In the other boxes,the nobles who would be affected had mixed reactions. Some wore looks of excitement, while others appeared hesitant.

Father’s eyes gleamed and a charismatic smile crossed his face as a hand swept down and to the right. “So without further ado, the matches are Jarl Xandri Ra and Lady Yulandia of House Polia.”