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“Nice of the Cachians to give you a ride,” I called to him as I made my way down the hill.

Colynes had fallen during our time across the Ward. The old King was dead. When we came back over, one of the Nameless had found Oraik and told him the chancellor wanted to speak.

“Why, to trade him away?” I’d snapped.

The Nameless had tilted her head slightly to look in my direction, then calmly replied, “because he is rightful king of two lands. There are treaties to renew.”

Oraik had headed alone to Rovileis while I went to the tower, then to my family’s home. Now the royal man clambered up the hill towards me, hands on his knees.

“They wouldn’t let me stop anywhere along the way,” he called back to me. “It was horrible.” The man who’d tied the ship to the dock remained there, but an armored guard followed on Oraik’s heel, wearing the shroud of the Nameless.

“I don’t know how to bow to a King,” I told him as we finally met. He crushed me in a hug, then stepped back, his hands light on my arms. His eyes were lined with thick kohl and a glimmer of gold.

“Good. I’m not a King. I abdicated.”

My eyes widened.

“You what? Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. It’s not the sort of moment one forgets.”

“God’s peace. No, I mean, are you sure that was smart? You’d be good at it. Everybody likes you.”

“Oh, is that all it takes? Colynes isn’t my home, and I never want it to be,” Oraik said with a shrug. “And why would I want to sit in one place forever, anyways?”

“But…” I shook my head. It was too much to take in. The Nameless guard had stopped a pace behind Oraik and stood there with hands folded.

“I turned it all over to the Cachians so they could figure out what to do with it. Well, except Doregall. She’s her own country again,” Oraik said. “I’m headed there, after this.”

“So you’re King there, or…?” I asked, tucking back my hair as the wind ruffled it. Oraik shook his head.

“Of a country I’ve never even seen yet, one my father did unspeakable things to?” He made a face. “I don’t believe anybody with Colynes blood should ever rule her. But the Chancellor thought, given my mother’s line, that building a new government would go better if I gave my support. Lest anyone try to build an army ‘in my name.’”

“I see,” I told him. “What a week for you. From prince to king to… whatever you are.”

“Just a stunningly handsome, wealthy individual,” he said with a wink. “But come on. I didn’t come here to muse over the future. What a pretty little house! So this is Nis, is it?” Oraik turned and grinned at his companion. “This is Damianos, by the way. The Chancellor lent him to me. Can you imagine?”

I didn’t think he was supposed to share the name of a Nameless guard, but it was done.

“We haven’t met, have we?” I asked nervously. It was going to be an awkward visit if the man I’d threatened to kill was serving as Oraik’s shadow.

The veiled man shook his head no.

“Good,” I said. “Come on, then. Let me show you the house. My mother will be relieved you're not a king, you know. She was terrified she’d cook the wrong thing.” We started to walk up the hill.

“I can’t wait to meet her. Is it rude to ask, ‘how did you raise such a surly child?’”

“Incredibly rude,” I told him flatly.

“Really? But if I ever have my own, how will I know what to avoid?”

“You’re a menace.”

“I know I am. Now, remind me when you and Tarelay will begin writing the new ward?”

“Eleven days. I’ve been counting them down.”

“Excellent. Please say you’ll come to Doregall with me first, then?”